Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1
The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1 is here in full — 249 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1
Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE CHATEAU OF "LORGE."
In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.
Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.
Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.
Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1 is here in full — 249 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE CHATEAU OF "LORGE."
Line 2
In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.
Line 3
Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.
Line 4
Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.
Line 5
Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

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.

archaeological adjective US /ˌɑːrkiəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/

related to or dealing with or devoted to archaeology

From this reading “Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.”

elfin adjective US /ˈelfɪn/

suggestive of an elf in strangeness and otherworldliness

From this reading “Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.”

Loire noun US /lɔɪr/

the longest French river; rises in the Massif Central and flows north and west to the Atlantic Ocean

From this reading “In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.”

pastimes noun US /ˈpæstaɪmz/

plural of “pastime” — a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly)

From this reading “Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.”

pates noun US /peɪts/

plural of “pate” — liver or meat or fowl finely minced or ground and variously seasoned

From this reading “Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.”

prehistoric adjective US /ˌpriːhɪˈstɔːrɪk/

belonging to or existing in times before recorded history

From this reading “Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.”

spanning verb US /ˈspænɪŋ/

inflected form of “span” — to cover or extend over an area or time period

From this reading “Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.”

whimsically adverb US /ˈwɪmzɪkli/

in a fanciful manner

From this reading “Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

occupy a place verb + article + noun counted as “occupy … place”

In this reading “Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.”

stands out verb + adjective counted as “stand out”

be highly noticeable

In this reading “In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.”

All words in this reading · 119

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 Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

Amboise

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

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

archaeologicaladjectiveUS /ˌɑːrkiəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/

related to or dealing with or devoted to archaeology

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

architecturenounUS /ˈɑːrkətektʃər/

an architectural product or work

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

armournounUS /ˈɑːrmər/

a military unit consisting of armored fighting vehicles

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/

a person's social heritage: previous experience or training

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

baronsnounUS /ˈbærənz/

plural of “baron” — a nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

bathingnounUS /ˈbeɪðɪŋ/

immersing the body in water or sunshine

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

Blois

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

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

blossomedverbUS /ˈblɑːsəmd/

past form of “blossom” — produce or yield flowers

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

castlesnounUS /ˈkæsəlz/

plural of “castle” — a large and stately mansion

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

CHATEAUnounUS /ʃæˈtoʊ/

an impressive country house (or castle) in France

From this reading THE CHATEAU OF "LORGE."

Chenonceaux

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

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

Chinon

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

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

cleaving

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

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

contemplatingverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

datesnounUS /deɪts/

plural of “date” — the specified day of the month

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

denounUS /diː/

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

detailsnounUS /dɪˈteɪlz/

true confidential information

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

Diane

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

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

dignifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪɡnəfaɪd/

having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

driveverbUS /draɪv/

operate or control a vehicle

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/

housing that someone is living in

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

elfinadjectiveUS /ˈelfɪn/

suggestive of an elf in strangeness and otherworldliness

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

fairylandnounUS /ˈferilænd/

something existing solely in the imagination (but often mistaken for reality)

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

flowingnounUS /ˈfloʊɪŋ/

the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

FrancenounUS /fræns/

a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

grimadjectiveUS /ɡrɪm/

not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

historicadjectiveUS /hɪˈstɔːrɪk/

belonging to the past; of what is important or famous in the past

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

interestingadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

ironnounUS /ˈaɪərn/

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

jollyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːli/

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

livelyadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪvli/

full of life and energy

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

LoirenounUS /lɔɪr/

the longest French river; rises in the Massif Central and flows north and west to the Atlantic Ocean

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

LORGE

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

From this reading THE CHATEAU OF "LORGE."

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

marechal

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

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

mediaevaladjective

relating to or belonging to the Middle Ages

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

midwayadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdweɪ/

equally distant from the extremes

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

monkeydom

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

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

moroselyadverb

in a morose manner

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

occupyverbUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪ/

keep busy with

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE CHATEAU OF "LORGE."

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

pastimesnounUS /ˈpæstaɪmz/

plural of “pastime” — a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly)

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

patesnounUS /peɪts/

plural of “pate” — liver or meat or fowl finely minced or ground and variously seasoned

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

periodnounUS /ˈpɪriəd/

an amount of time

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

petnounUS /pet/

a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

pilenounUS /paɪl/

a collection of objects laid on top of each other

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

Poictier's

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

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

prehistoricadjectiveUS /ˌpriːhɪˈstɔːrɪk/

belonging to or existing in times before recorded history

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

PrivilegedadjectiveUS /ˈprɪvlədʒd/

blessed with privileges

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

ProfoundlyadverbUS /proʊˈfaʊndli/

to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

provincesnounUS /ˈprɑːvənsəz/

plural of “province” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

quaffing

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

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/

in the recent past

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

reflectionnounUS /rɪˈflekʃən/

a calm, lengthy, intent consideration

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

sleptverbUS /slept/

inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

smilingnounUS /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

spanningverbUS /ˈspænɪŋ/

inflected form of “span” — to cover or extend over an area or time period

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

specimennounUS /ˈspesəmən/

an example regarded as typical of its class

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

standsnounUS /stændz/

plural of “stand” — a support or foundation

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

straightadjectiveUS /streɪt/

successive (without a break)

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

swiftlyadverbUS /ˈswɪftli/

in a swift manner

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE CHATEAU OF "LORGE."

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

tombsnounUS /tuːmz/

plural of “tomb” — a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

Touraine

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

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

ToursnounUS /tʊrz/

an industrial city in western France on the Loire River

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

ungrudginglyadverb

in a generous and ungrudging manner

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

usquebaugh

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

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

venerableadjectiveUS /ˈvenərəbəl/

impressive by reason of age

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

viewnounUS /vjuː/

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

whimsicallyadverbUS /ˈwɪmzɪkli/

in a fanciful manner

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Lorge dates from the iron period; not the time of prehistoric man, who had recently blossomed out of monkeydom, but of the early mediaeval barons, who slept in their armour--as they still do on their tombs--whose pet pastimes were the cleaving of pates and the quaffing of usquebaugh.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Privileged to occupy a place in one of the most smiling provinces of France, it is within a drive of Amboise on one side and Chinon on the other, dignified castles both; and not very far away is Diane de Poictier's Chenonceaux, whimsically spanning a river, a specimen of elfin architecture straight from fairyland.

wondernounUS /ˈwʌndər/

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading Profoundly interesting from an archaeological point of view, the historic pile is not a lively dwelling, and it is no wonder that the jolly old marechal should have ungrudgingly passed it to his daughter.

woodedadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdɪd/

covered with growing trees and bushes etc

From this reading In Touraine, midway between Tours and Blois, the venerable chateau of Lorge stands out from a wooded background, bathing its feet in the swiftly flowing Loire, morosely contemplating the details of its grim reflection.

Chapter 4 of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1 by Lewis Wingfield holds 249 sentences, grouped into 50 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.

What does chapter 4 of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1 contain?

Chapter 4 holds 249 sentences of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1, unabridged, divided into 50 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1 by Lewis Wingfield exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 249 sentences, grouped into 50 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 4 of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1?

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

Each of the 50 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Maid of Honour — Vol. 1

Common questions about reading The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1 by Lewis Wingfield on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1?

Yes. All 2404 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #38865 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #38865, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1 take to read?

About 200 minutes of reading across 481 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1 section by section

How to work through The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 10 chapters of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1 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 Maid of Honour — Vol. 1

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Diphthong
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Represented
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
France
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Three
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Maid of Honour — Vol. 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.