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The Sylph, Volume I and II
The Sylph, Volume I and II

Chapter XXXVI

Chapter 36 of The Sylph, Volume I and II is here in full — 75 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Sylph, Volume I and II
Context Illustration Reading 1/15 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
TO Lady STANLEY.
Melford-Abbey.
Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.
And who do you think is the object of it?
To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?
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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 Sylph, Volume I and II

Chapter XXXVI

Chapter 36 of The Sylph, Volume I and II is here in full — 75 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/15 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
TO Lady STANLEY.
/tuː ˈleɪdi ˈstænli/
Line 2
Melford-Abbey.
Line 3
Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.
Line 4
And who do you think is the object of it?
/ənd huː duː juː θɪŋk ɪz ðə ˈɑːbdʒekt ʌv ɪt/
Line 5
To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?
/tuː huːm hæz ðə ˈkɑːnstənt juːθ peɪd hɪz vaʊz ɪn ˈsiː.krət ənd wɔːrn əˈweɪ ə ˈsɪriz ʌv jɪrz ɪn ˈhoʊpləs ˈpaɪnɪŋ lʌv/

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.

ascendancy noun US /əˈsendənsi/

the state that exists when one person or group has power over another

From this reading “Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.”

attachment noun US /əˈtætʃmənt/

a feeling of affection for a person or an institution

From this reading “Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.”

confidante noun US /ˈkɑːnfədænt/

a female confidant

hopeless adjective US /ˈhoʊpləs/

without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success

From this reading “To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?”

pining noun US /ˈpaɪnɪŋ/

a feeling of deep longing

From this reading “To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?”

Spencer noun US /ˈspensər/

English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)

From this reading “Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.”

stanley noun US /ˈstænli/

United States inventor who built a steam-powered automobile (1849-1918)

From this reading “TO Lady STANLEY.”

vows noun US /vaʊz/

plural of “vow” — a solemn pledge (to oneself or to another or to a deity) to do something or to behave in a certain manner

From this reading “To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?”

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.

worn away verb + particle

In this reading “To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?”

All words in this reading · 49

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 Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And who do you think is the object of it?

ascendancynounUS /əˈsendənsi/

the state that exists when one person or group has power over another

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

attachmentnounUS /əˈtætʃmənt/

a feeling of affection for a person or an institution

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

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

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

confidantenounUS /ˈkɑːnfədænt/

a female confidant

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

constantadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnstənt/

unvarying in nature

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading And who do you think is the object of it?

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/

without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading TO Lady STANLEY.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

Melford-Abbey

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

From this reading Melford-Abbey.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

objectnounUS /ˈɑːbdʒekt/

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading And who do you think is the object of it?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

paidadjectiveUS /peɪd/

marked by the reception of pay

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

piningnounUS /ˈpaɪnɪŋ/

a feeling of deep longing

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

proofnounUS /pruːf/

any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

seriesnounUS /ˈsɪriz/

similar things placed in order or happening one after another

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

SpencernounUS /ˈspensər/

English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

STANLEYnounUS /ˈstænli/

United States inventor who built a steam-powered automobile (1849-1918)

From this reading TO Lady STANLEY.

tellsnounUS /telz/

plural of “tell” — a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading And who do you think is the object of it?

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading TO Lady STANLEY.

vowsnounUS /vaʊz/

plural of “vow” — a solemn pledge (to oneself or to another or to a deity) to do something or to behave in a certain manner

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading And who do you think is the object of it?

whompronounUS /huːm/

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

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

Woodley's

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

From this reading Mr. Spencer tells me, it is a proof I have great ascendancy over him, since he has made me the _confidante_ of his friend Woodley's attachment.

wornverbUS /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading And who do you think is the object of it?

youthnounUS /juːθ/

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading To whom has the constant youth paid his vows in secret, and worn away a series of years in hopeless, pining love?

Chapter 36 of The Sylph, Volume I and II by Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire Cavendish holds 75 sentences, grouped into 15 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 36 of The Sylph, Volume I and II contain?

Chapter 36 holds 75 sentences of The Sylph, Volume I and II, unabridged, divided into 15 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 36 of The Sylph, Volume I and II by Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire Cavendish exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 75 sentences, grouped into 15 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 36 of The Sylph, Volume I and II?

Work through the 15 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 15 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 36 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 36 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 Sylph, Volume I and II

Common questions about reading The Sylph, Volume I and II by Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire Cavendish on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Sylph, Volume I and II?

Yes. All 3577 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #38525 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Sylph, Volume I and II is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #38525, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Sylph, Volume I and II take to read?

About 298 minutes of reading across 716 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Sylph, Volume I and II section by section

How to work through The Sylph, Volume I and II section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Sylph, Volume I and II 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 Sylph, Volume I and II

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Sylph, Volume I and II, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Sylphs
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Sylph, Volume I and II; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sylphids
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Sylph, Volume I and II; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chief
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Sylph, Volume I and II; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fairies
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Sylph, Volume I and II; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.