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The Rise of Silas Lapham
The Rise of Silas Lapham

Chapter XIX · Chapter 19

Chapter 19 of The Rise of Silas Lapham is here in full — 210 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.
If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.
Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"
Mrs. Corey refused the consequence, saying that it did not follow.
"Besides, he did praise her."
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Rise of Silas Lapham

Chapter XIX · Chapter 19

Chapter 19 of The Rise of Silas Lapham is here in full — 210 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.
Line 2
If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.
Line 3
Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"
Line 4
Mrs. Corey refused the consequence, saying that it did not follow.
Line 5
"Besides, he did praise her."
/bɪˈsaɪdz hiː dɪd preɪz hɜːr/

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.

backwardness noun US /ˈbækwərdnəs/

lack of normal development of intellectual capacities

From this reading “"You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.”

Bismarck noun US /ˈbɪzmɑːrk/

German statesman under whose leadership Germany was united (1815-1898)

From this reading “"You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.”

conception noun US /kənˈsepʃən/

an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances

From this reading “"You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.”

diplomacy noun US /dɪˈploʊməsi/

negotiation between nations

From this reading “"You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.”

elder noun US /ˈeldər/

a person who is older than you are

From this reading “Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"”

praises noun US /ˈpreɪzəz/

plural of “praise” — an expression of approval and commendation

From this reading “If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.”

risen adjective US /ˈrɪzən/

(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon

From this reading “"You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.”

sex noun US /seks/

activities associated with sexual intercourse

From this reading “"You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.”

All words in this reading · 56

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 "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.

backwardnessnounUS /ˈbækwərdnəs/

lack of normal development of intellectual capacities

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

BesidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading "Besides, he did praise her."

BismarcknounUS /ˈbɪzmɑːrk/

German statesman under whose leadership Germany was united (1815-1898)

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

conceptionnounUS /kənˈsepʃən/

an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

consequencenounUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwəns/

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading Mrs. Corey refused the consequence, saying that it did not follow.

Corey

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

From this reading Mrs. Corey refused the consequence, saying that it did not follow.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Mrs. Corey refused the consequence, saying that it did not follow.

didn't

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

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

diplomacynounUS /dɪˈploʊməsi/

negotiation between nations

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

eldernounUS /ˈeldər/

a person who is older than you are

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

evidencenounUS /ˈevədəns/

your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

followverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊ/

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Mrs. Corey refused the consequence, saying that it did not follow.

HASauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

haven't

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

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

he's

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

From this reading If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.

HERdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Mrs. Corey refused the consequence, saying that it did not follow.

it's

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

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.

meanverbUS /miːn/

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Corey refused the consequence, saying that it did not follow.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Mrs. Corey refused the consequence, saying that it did not follow.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.

praisenounUS /preɪz/

an expression of approval and commendation

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

praisesnounUS /ˈpreɪzəz/

plural of “praise” — an expression of approval and commendation

From this reading If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.

refusedverbUS /rəˈfjuːzd/

past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards

From this reading Mrs. Corey refused the consequence, saying that it did not follow.

risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/

(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

sayingnounUS /ˈseɪɪŋ/

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading Mrs. Corey refused the consequence, saying that it did not follow.

sexnounUS /seks/

activities associated with sexual intercourse

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

spokenadjectiveUS /ˈspoʊkən/

uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

TomnounUS /tɑːm/

male cat

From this reading Do you mean that because Tom didn't praise the elder sister so much, he HAS spoken to HER?"

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading If a man praises one woman, you still think he's in love with another.

womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You women haven't risen yet--it's an evidence of the backwardness of your sex--to a conception of the Bismarck idea in diplomacy.

Chapter 19 of The Rise of Silas Lapham by William Dean Howells holds 210 sentences, grouped into 42 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 19 of The Rise of Silas Lapham contain?

Chapter 19 holds 210 sentences of The Rise of Silas Lapham, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 19 of The Rise of Silas Lapham by William Dean Howells exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 210 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 19 of The Rise of Silas Lapham?

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 19 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 19 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 Rise of Silas Lapham

Common questions about reading The Rise of Silas Lapham by William Dean Howells on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Rise of Silas Lapham?

Yes. All 8158 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #154 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Rise of Silas Lapham is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #154, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Rise of Silas Lapham take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1632 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Rise of Silas Lapham

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Rise of Silas Lapham, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Bartley
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rise of Silas Lapham; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hubbard
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rise of Silas Lapham; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Interview
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rise of Silas Lapham; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Silas
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rise of Silas Lapham; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.