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The Wife, and Other Stories
The Wife, and Other Stories

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of The Wife, and Other Stories is here in full — 174 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
And I am glum.
Evidently I am a constraint to them and they are a constraint to me.
I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.
I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.
His presence has a bad influence on me in other ways, too.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Wife, and Other Stories

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of The Wife, and Other Stories is here in full — 174 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
And I am glum.
/ənd aɪ æm ɡlʌm/
Line 2
Evidently I am a constraint to them and they are a constraint to me.
/ˈevədəntli aɪ æm ə kənˈstreɪnt tuː ðem ənd ðeɪ ɑːr ə kənˈstreɪnt tuː miː/
Line 3
I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.
/aɪ hæv ˈnevər ɪn maɪ ˈɜːrliər deɪz hæd ə kloʊs ˈnɑːlədʒ ʌv klæs ænˈtæɡənɪzəm bʌt naʊ aɪ æm ˈtɔːrmentɪd baɪ ˈsʌmθɪŋ ʌv ðæt sɔːrt/
Line 4
I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.
Line 5
His presence has a bad influence on me in other ways, too.
/hɪz ˈprezəns hæz ə bæd ˈɪnfluːəns ɑːn miː ɪn ˈʌðər weɪz tuː/

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.

antagonism noun US /ænˈtæɡənɪzəm/

a state of deep-seated ill-will

From this reading “I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.”

constraint noun US /kənˈstreɪnt/

the state of being physically constrained

From this reading “Evidently I am a constraint to them and they are a constraint to me.”

daughter's noun US /ˈdɔːtərz/

possessive form of “daughter” — a female human offspring

fretted adjective US /ˈfretɪd/

having frets

From this reading “I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.”

glum adjective US /ɡlʌm/

moody and melancholic

From this reading “And I am glum.”

lookout noun US /ˈlʊkaʊt/

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading “I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.”

suitor noun US /ˈsuːtər/

a man who courts a woman

From this reading “I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.”

tormented adjective US /ˈtɔːrmentɪd/

experiencing intense pain especially mental pain

From this reading “I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.”

All words in this reading · 60

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 Evidently I am a constraint to them and they are a constraint to me.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading And I am glum.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And I am glum.

antagonismnounUS /ænˈtæɡənɪzəm/

a state of deep-seated ill-will

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Evidently I am a constraint to them and they are a constraint to me.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

badadjectiveUS /bæd/

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

circlenounUS /ˈsɜːrkəl/

ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

classnounUS /klæs/

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

constraintnounUS /kənˈstreɪnt/

the state of being physically constrained

From this reading Evidently I am a constraint to them and they are a constraint to me.

daughter'snounUS /ˈdɔːtərz/

possessive form of “daughter” — a female human offspring

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

earlieradverbUS /ˈɜːrliər/

earlier in time; previously

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

EvidentlyadverbUS /ˈevədəntli/

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading Evidently I am a constraint to them and they are a constraint to me.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

frettedadjectiveUS /ˈfretɪd/

having frets

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

glumadjectiveUS /ɡlʌm/

moody and melancholic

From this reading And I am glum.

Gnekker

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

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading His presence has a bad influence on me in other ways, too.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His presence has a bad influence on me in other ways, too.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading And I am glum.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

influencenounUS /ˈɪnfluːəns/

a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc

From this reading His presence has a bad influence on me in other ways, too.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

knowledgenounUS /ˈnɑːlədʒ/

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

lookoutnounUS /ˈlʊkaʊt/

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Evidently I am a constraint to them and they are a constraint to me.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading His presence has a bad influence on me in other ways, too.

presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading His presence has a bad influence on me in other ways, too.

qualitiesnounUS /ˈkwɑːlətiz/

plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

quicklyadverbUS /ˈkwɪkli/

with speed

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

suitornounUS /ˈsuːtər/

a man who courts a woman

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Evidently I am a constraint to them and they are a constraint to me.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Evidently I am a constraint to them and they are a constraint to me.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

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

From this reading I am on the lookout for nothing but bad qualities in Gnekker; I quickly find them, and am fretted at the thought that a man not of my circle is sitting here as my daughter’s suitor.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Evidently I am a constraint to them and they are a constraint to me.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading His presence has a bad influence on me in other ways, too.

tormentedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrmentɪd/

experiencing intense pain especially mental pain

From this reading I have never in my earlier days had a close knowledge of class antagonism, but now I am tormented by something of that sort.

waysnounUS /weɪz/

structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired

From this reading His presence has a bad influence on me in other ways, too.

Chapter 14 of The Wife, and Other Stories by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov holds 174 sentences, grouped into 35 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 14 of The Wife, and Other Stories contain?

Chapter 14 holds 174 sentences of The Wife, and Other Stories, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of The Wife, and Other Stories by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 174 sentences, grouped into 35 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 14 of The Wife, and Other Stories?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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 Wife, and Other Stories

Common questions about reading The Wife, and Other Stories by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Wife, and Other Stories?

Yes. All 4371 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1883 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Wife, and Other Stories is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1883, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Wife, and Other Stories take to read?

About 364 minutes of reading across 875 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Wife, and Other Stories section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 24 chapters of The Wife, and Other Stories 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 Wife, and Other Stories

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

Difficult
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wife, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
People
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wife, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Grasshopper
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wife, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dreary
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wife, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.