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The Voyage Out
The Voyage Out

Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

Chapter 26 of The Voyage Out is here in full — 321 sentences across 65 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Virginia Woolf • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Voyage Out
Context Illustration Reading 1/64 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.
Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.
During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.
In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.
It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.
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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 Voyage Out

Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

Chapter 26 of The Voyage Out is here in full — 321 sentences across 65 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/64 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.
Line 2
Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.
Line 3
During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.
Line 4
In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.
Line 5
It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

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.

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.”

Velmora curated lexicon

All words in this reading · 86

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.

a

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
across

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
after

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
air

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
almost

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
although

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
and

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
audible

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
be

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
begun

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
behind

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
birds

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
branch

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
branches

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
breathing

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
broken

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
but

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
by

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
caused

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
ceased

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
chill

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
clouds

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
continued

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
continuous

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
could

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
During

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
earth

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
empty

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
fell

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
first

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
flutter

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
For

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
from

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
frost

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
had

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
heard

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
hours

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
In

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
it

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
its

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
land

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
lay

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
light

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
like

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
longer

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
moon

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
moved

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
movement

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
never

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
not

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
notes

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
of

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
one

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
only

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
or

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
over

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
poured

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
profound

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
rose

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
sea

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
shadows

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Velmora curated lexicon
slight

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
slightly

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
sound

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
spaces

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
stirred

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
straightly

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
that

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
the

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
their

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
then

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
these

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Velmora curated lexicon
this

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

From this reading In this profound silence one sound only was audible, the sound of a slight but continuous breathing which never ceased, although it never rose and never fell.

Pending verification
three

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
through

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
to

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
too

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
trees

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
two

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

From this reading For two or three hours longer the moon poured its light through the empty air.

Pending verification
Unbroken

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification
voices

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

From this reading It continued after the birds had begun to flutter from branch to branch, and could be heard behind the first thin notes of their voices.

Pending verification
was

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
which

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

From this reading During these hours the silence was not broken, and the only movement was caused by the movement of trees and branches which stirred slightly, and then the shadows that lay across the white spaces of the land moved too.

Pending verification
white

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

From this reading Unbroken by clouds it fell straightly, and lay almost like a chill white frost over the sea and the earth.

Pending verification

Chapter 26 of The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf holds 321 sentences, grouped into 65 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 26 of The Voyage Out contain?

Chapter 26 holds 321 sentences of The Voyage Out, unabridged, divided into 65 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 26 of The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 321 sentences, grouped into 65 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 26 of The Voyage Out?

Work through the 65 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 65 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 26 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 26 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 Voyage Out

Common questions about reading The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Voyage Out?

Yes. All 8032 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #144 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Voyage Out is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #144, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Voyage Out take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1607 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Voyage Out section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 27 chapters of The Voyage Out 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 Voyage Out

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

Streets
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Voyage Out; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Strand
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Voyage Out; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Embankment
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Voyage Out; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Narrow
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Voyage Out; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.