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The President: A Novel
The President: A Novel

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The President: A Novel is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.
Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.
The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.
Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.
This commonwealth at the time was politically in the hands of the party opposed to Senator Hanway.
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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 President: A Novel

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The President: A Novel is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.
Line 2
Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.
/ˈɔːfən ɪt ɡɪvz wɪð ðə raɪt hænd ˈoʊnli tuː teɪk wɪð ðə left ənd ˈblaɪndɪd wʌnz ɑːr set tuː tʃɑːp ənd sɔː ənd pleɪn ðoʊz triːz wɪtʃ ɪn ðə end meɪk ˈɡæloʊz fɔːr ðer hoʊps/
Line 3
The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.
Line 4
Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.
Line 5
This commonwealth at the time was politically in the hands of the party opposed to Senator Hanway.

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.

Airline noun US /ˈerlaɪn/

a hose that carries air under pressure

From this reading “Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.”

Anaconda noun US /ˌænəˈkɑːndə/

large arboreal boa of tropical South America

From this reading “Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.”

Frankenstein noun US /ˈfræŋkənstaɪn/

an agency that escapes control and destroys its creator

From this reading “The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.”

Gwynn noun US /ɡwɪn/

English comedienne and mistress of Charles II (1650-1687)

From this reading “Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.”

inadvertent adjective US /ˌɪnədˈvɜːrtənt/

happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally

From this reading “The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.”

ironies noun US /ˈaɪrəniz/

plural of “irony” — witty language used to convey insults or scorn

From this reading “HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.”

speakership noun US /ˈspiːkərʃɪp/

the position of Speaker

From this reading “HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.”

statesman's noun US /ˈsteɪtsmənz/

possessive form of “statesman” — a man who is a respected leader in national or international affairs

From this reading “Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.”

All words in this reading · 115

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 HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

AirlinenounUS /ˈerlaɪn/

a hose that carries air under pressure

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.

AnacondanounUS /ˌænəˈkɑːndə/

large arboreal boa of tropical South America

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading This commonwealth at the time was politically in the hands of the party opposed to Senator Hanway.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

bitteradjectiveUS /ˈbɪtər/

marked by strong resentment or cynicism

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

blindedadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪndɪd/

deprived of sight

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

chopverbUS /tʃɑːp/

cut into pieces

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

comfortnounUS /ˈkʌmfərt/

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

commonwealthnounUS /ˈkɑːmənwelθ/

the official name of some states in the United States (Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and Virginia and Kentucky) and associated territories (Puerto Rico)

From this reading This commonwealth at the time was politically in the hands of the party opposed to Senator Hanway.

congealedadjectiveUS /kənˈdʒiːld/

congealed into jelly; solidified by cooling

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

cutverbUS /kʌt/

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

deeplyadverbUS /ˈdiːpli/

to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.

dominantadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːmənənt/

exercising influence or control

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

FatenounUS /feɪt/

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

fortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

FOUGHTverbUS /fɔːt/

inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

FrankensteinnounUS /ˈfræŋkənstaɪn/

an agency that escapes control and destroys its creator

From this reading The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.

gallowsnounUS /ˈɡæloʊz/

an instrument of execution consisting of a wooden frame from which a condemned person is executed by hanging

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

givesnounUS /ɡɪvz/

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

grewsome

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

From this reading The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.

grinningnounUS /ˈɡrɪnɪŋ/

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

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

GwynnnounUS /ɡwɪn/

English comedienne and mistress of Charles II (1650-1687)

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading This commonwealth at the time was politically in the hands of the party opposed to Senator Hanway.

Hanway

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

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

hopesnounUS /hoʊps/

plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

HousenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

HOW

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

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

inadvertentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnədˈvɜːrtənt/

happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally

From this reading The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

ironiesnounUS /ˈaɪrəniz/

plural of “irony” — witty language used to convey insults or scorn

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

jesternounUS /ˈdʒestər/

a professional clown employed to entertain a king or nobleman in the Middle Ages

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

justifiesverbUS /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪz/

third-person singular of “justify” — show to be right by providing justification or proof

From this reading The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

manufacturingnounUS /ˌmænjəˈfæktʃərɪŋ/

the act of making something (a product) from raw materials

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

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

From this reading The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

NortheasternadjectiveUS /ˌnɔːrˈθiːstərn/

situated in or oriented toward the northeast

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.

OftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

onesnounUS /wʌnz/

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

opposedadjectiveUS /əˈpoʊzd/

being in opposition or having an opponent

From this reading This commonwealth at the time was politically in the hands of the party opposed to Senator Hanway.

partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/

an organization to gain political power

From this reading This commonwealth at the time was politically in the hands of the party opposed to Senator Hanway.

planenounUS /pleɪn/

an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

politicallyadverbUS /pəˈlɪtɪkəli/

with regard to social relationships involving authority

From this reading This commonwealth at the time was politically in the hands of the party opposed to Senator Hanway.

prioradjectiveUS /ˈpraɪər/

earlier in time

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

reconstructverbUS /ˌriːkənˈstrʌkt/

reassemble mentally

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

RepresentativesnounUS /ˌreprəˈzentətɪvz/

plural of “representative” — a person who represents others

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

richesnounUS /ˈrɪtʃəz/

an abundance of material possessions and resources

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

sarcasmnounUS /ˈsɑːrkæzəm/

witty language used to convey insults or scorn

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

selectionnounUS /səˈlekʃən/

the act of choosing or selecting

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

SenatornounUS /ˈsenətər/

a member of a senate

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

ShelleynounUS /ˈʃeli/

English writer who created Frankenstein's monster and married Percy Bysshe Shelley (1797-1851)

From this reading The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

showsnounUS /ʃoʊz/

plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining

From this reading The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

SpeakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/

someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

SPEAKERSHIPnounUS /ˈspiːkərʃɪp/

the position of Speaker

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

StatenounUS /steɪt/

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

statesman'snounUS /ˈsteɪtsmənz/

possessive form of “statesman” — a man who is a respected leader in national or international affairs

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

stoopsnounUS /stuːps/

plural of “stoop” — an inclination of the top half of the body forward and downward

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

tariffnounUS /ˈterəf/

a government tax on imports or exports

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

therebyadverbUS /ˈðerˈbaɪ/

by that means or because of that

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This commonwealth at the time was politically in the hands of the party opposed to Senator Hanway.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading This commonwealth at the time was politically in the hands of the party opposed to Senator Hanway.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

treesnounUS /triːz/

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

turnsnounUS /tɜːrnz/

plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

unusualadjectiveUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəl/

not usual or common or ordinary

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading HOW A SPEAKERSHIP WAS FOUGHT FOR Fate now and then turns jester in a bitter way, and stoops to ironies and grinning sarcasm.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Often it gives with the right hand only to take with the left, and blinded ones are set to chop and saw and plane those trees which in the end make gallows for their hopes.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading The story of the world shows many an inadvertent Frankenstein and deeply justifies the grewsome Mrs. Shelley.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading Something less than two years prior to that evening when Senator Hanway took the congealed Mr. Gwynn into a corner and told him how, with his great Anaconda Airline, he should cut a figure in the selection of a next Speaker for the House of Representatives, it had been that statesman's fortune to so reconstruct a tariff that it gave unusual riches and thereby unusual comfort to the dominant ones of a certain manufacturing Northeastern State.

Chapter 4 of The President: A Novel by Alfred Henry Lewis holds 207 sentences, grouped into 42 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 President: A Novel contain?

Chapter 4 holds 207 sentences of The President: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The President: A Novel by Alfred Henry Lewis exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 207 sentences, grouped into 42 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 President: A Novel?

Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 42 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 President: A Novel

Common questions about reading The President: A Novel by Alfred Henry Lewis on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The President: A Novel?

Yes. All 6169 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #18572 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The President: A Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #18572, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The President: A Novel take to read?

About 514 minutes of reading across 1234 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The President: A Novel section by section

How to work through The President: A Novel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 23 chapters of The President: A Novel to begin.

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    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 President: A Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in The President: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Far-away
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The President: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
November
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The President: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Morning
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The President: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Being
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The President: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.