Chapter 3 of The Sign of the Stranger is here in full — 405 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
Chapter 3 of The Sign of the Stranger is here in full — 405 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me. It's a pretty thing, but a trifle too dear." And I turned as though to leave. "Well, now, ninetheen pound won't hurt yer. You shall 'ave it for ninetheen pound."
Chapter 3 of The Sign of the Stranger is here in full — 405 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
acted upon; influenced
From this reading “At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.”
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading “At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.”
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading “At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.”
an instance of intense argument (as in bargaining)
From this reading “At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.”
come into possession of
From this reading “At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.”
hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument
From this reading “"Well, now, ninetheen pound won't hurt yer.”
(physics) opposition to magnetic flux (analogous to electric resistance)
From this reading “At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.”
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading “It's a pretty thing, but a trifle too dear."”
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.
in a state of proper readiness or preparation or arrangement
In this reading “At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It's a pretty thing, but a trifle too dear."
acted upon; influenced
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
later than; following
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And I turned as though to leave.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
any thing at all
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And I turned as though to leave.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You shall 'ave it for ninetheen pound."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It's a pretty thing, but a trifle too dear."
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
dearly loved
From this reading It's a pretty thing, but a trifle too dear."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading You shall 'ave it for ninetheen pound."
an instance of intense argument (as in bargaining)
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
be the source of pain
From this reading "Well, now, ninetheen pound won't hurt yer.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's a pretty thing, but a trifle too dear."
immediately past
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
go away from a place
From this reading And I turned as though to leave.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, now, ninetheen pound won't hurt yer.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Well, now, ninetheen pound won't hurt yer.
come into possession of
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument
From this reading "Well, now, ninetheen pound won't hurt yer.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading It's a pretty thing, but a trifle too dear."
(physics) opposition to magnetic flux (analogous to electric resistance)
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading You shall 'ave it for ninetheen pound."
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
a special situation
From this reading It's a pretty thing, but a trifle too dear."
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And I turned as though to leave.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It's a pretty thing, but a trifle too dear."
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading It's a pretty thing, but a trifle too dear."
moved around an axis or center
From this reading And I turned as though to leave.
(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 "Well, now, ninetheen pound won't hurt yer.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At last, after some haggling, more in order to conceal my anxiety to obtain it than anything else, I said, with affected reluctance-- "I haven't the money with me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, now, ninetheen pound won't hurt yer.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, now, ninetheen pound won't hurt yer.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You shall 'ave it for ninetheen pound."
Chapter 3 of The Sign of the Stranger by William Le Queux holds 405 sentences, grouped into 81 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 3 holds 405 sentences of The Sign of the Stranger, unabridged, divided into 81 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 3 of The Sign of the Stranger by William Le Queux exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 405 sentences, grouped into 81 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 81 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 81 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 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.
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Yes. All 4495 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #41089 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #41089, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 374 minutes of reading across 899 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Sign of the Stranger section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
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Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Sign of the Stranger, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
