Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Rector
The Rector

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Rector is here in full — 146 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Rector
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.
He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.
He was shyer than ever of addressing the ladies in those parties he was obliged to attend.
He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.
Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.
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 Rector

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Rector is here in full — 146 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.
/ˈmætərz went ɑːn ˈkwaɪətli fɔːr sʌm taɪm wɪˈθaʊt ˈeni kəˈtæstrəfi əˈkɜːrɪŋ tuː ðə ˈrektər/
Line 2
He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.
Line 3
He was shyer than ever of addressing the ladies in those parties he was obliged to attend.
Line 4
He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.
Line 5
Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

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.

confiding adjective US /kənˈfaɪdɪŋ/

willing to entrust personal matters

From this reading “He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.”

ingenuity noun US /ˌɪndʒəˈnuːətiː/

the power of creative imagination

From this reading “He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.”

invitations noun US /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃənz/

plural of “invitation” — a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something

From this reading “He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.”

kinder adjective US /ˈkaɪndər/

comparative of “kind” — having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading “He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.”

occurring verb US /əˈkɜːrɪŋ/

inflected form of “occur” — come to pass

From this reading “Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.”

parishioners noun US /pərˈɪʃənərz/

plural of “parishioner” — a member of a parish

From this reading “He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.”

precautions noun US /priˈkɔːʃənz/

plural of “precaution” — a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.

From this reading “He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.”

Proctor noun US /ˈprɑːktər/

someone who supervises (an examination)

From this reading “He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.”

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.

declined the invitations verb + article + noun counted as “decline … invitation”

In this reading “He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.”

some time adjective + noun

In this reading “Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.”

own ingenuity verb + noun

In this reading “He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.”

went on verb + particle counted as “go on”

continue a certain state, condition, or activity

In this reading “Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.”

ordinary life noun + noun

In this reading “He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.”

in the presence preposition + article + noun counted as “in … presence”

In this reading “He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.”

for ten preposition + noun

In this reading “He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.”

All words in this reading · 102

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.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

addressingverbUS /əˈdresɪŋ/

-ing form of “address” — speak to

From this reading He was shyer than ever of addressing the ladies in those parties he was obliged to attend.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

attendverbUS /əˈtend/

be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.

From this reading He was shyer than ever of addressing the ladies in those parties he was obliged to attend.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

Carlingford

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

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

catastrophenounUS /kəˈtæstrəfi/

an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

confidingadjectiveUS /kənˈfaɪdɪŋ/

willing to entrust personal matters

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

curiousadjectiveUS /ˈkjʊriəs/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

declinedverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnd/

past form of “decline” — grow worse

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

embarrassedadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəst/

feeling or caused to feel ill at ease or self-conscious or ashamed

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

embarrassmentnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənt/

the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

especiallyadverbUS /əˈspeʃli/

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

everywhereadverbUS /ˈevriwer/

to or in any or all places

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/

more than is needed, desired, or required

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

findingnounUS /ˈfaɪndɪŋ/

the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

helpverbUS /help/

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

how

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

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

indisposedadjective

somewhat ill or prone to illness

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

ingenuitynounUS /ˌɪndʒəˈnuːətiː/

the power of creative imagination

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

inventedverbUS /ˌɪnˈventəd/

past form of “invent” — come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

invitationsnounUS /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃənz/

plural of “invitation” — a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

kinderadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndər/

comparative of “kind” — having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

ladiesnounUS /ˈleɪdiz/

plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

From this reading He was shyer than ever of addressing the ladies in those parties he was obliged to attend.

leastadjectiveUS /liːst/

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

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

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

MattersnounUS /ˈmætərz/

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

meetingnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋ/

a formally arranged gathering

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

MissverbUS /mɪs/

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

NotwithstandingadverbUS /ˌnɑːtwɪθˈstændɪŋ/

despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

obligedadjectiveUS /əˈblaɪdʒd/

under a moral obligation to do something

From this reading He was shyer than ever of addressing the ladies in those parties he was obliged to attend.

occurringverbUS /əˈkɜːrɪŋ/

inflected form of “occur” — come to pass

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

ordinarynounUS /ˈɔːrdəneri/

a judge of a probate court

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

parishionersnounUS /pərˈɪʃənərz/

plural of “parishioner” — a member of a parish

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

partiesnounUS /ˈpɑːrtiz/

plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power

From this reading He was shyer than ever of addressing the ladies in those parties he was obliged to attend.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

pooradjectiveUS /puːr/

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

popularadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːpjələr/

regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

precautionsnounUS /priˈkɔːʃənz/

plural of “precaution” — a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

ProctornounUS /ˈprɑːktər/

someone who supervises (an examination)

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

quietlyadverbUS /ˈkwaɪətli/

with low volume

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

RectornounUS /ˈrektər/

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

resumedverbUS /rɪˈzuːmd/

past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

shutverbUS /ʃʌt/

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

shyer

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

From this reading He was shyer than ever of addressing the ladies in those parties he was obliged to attend.

societynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading He was shyer than ever of addressing the ladies in those parties he was obliged to attend.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

timidlyadverbUS /ˈtɪmədli/

in a shy or timid or bashful manner

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/

conducive to or feeling mental discomfort

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

understoodadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈstʊd/

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

unfortunatelyadverbUS /ənˈfɔːrtʃənətli/

by bad luck

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Notwithstanding this embarrassment, it is curious how well he knew how they looked, and what they were doing, and all about them.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He had shut himself up from all society, and declined the invitations of the parishioners for ten long days at least; but finding that the kind people were only kinder than ever when they understood he was "indisposed," poor Mr Proctor resumed his ordinary life, confiding timidly in some extra precautions which his own ingenuity had invented.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Matters went on quietly for some time without any catastrophe occurring to the Rector.

Wodehouses

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

From this reading He was especially embarrassed and uncomfortable in the presence of the two Miss Wodehouses, who, unfortunately, were very popular in Carlingford, and whom he could not help meeting everywhere.

Chapter 3 of The Rector by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant holds 146 sentences, grouped into 30 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 3 of The Rector contain?

Chapter 3 holds 146 sentences of The Rector, unabridged, divided into 30 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Rector by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 146 sentences, grouped into 30 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 3 of The Rector?

Work through the 30 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 30 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Rector

Common questions about reading The Rector by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Rector?

Yes. All 553 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #29891 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Rector is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #29891, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Rector take to read?

About 46 minutes of reading across 111 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Rector section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 4 chapters of The Rector 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 Rector

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

Natural
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rector; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Suppose
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rector; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Arrival
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rector; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rector
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rector; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.