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The wisdom of Father Brown
The wisdom of Father Brown

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of The wisdom of Father Brown is here in full — 179 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The wisdom of Father Brown
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.
He was buttoned and buckled up to his bursting eyeballs in the most brilliant fashion.
A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.
But somehow the black man was like the black hat.
He also was black, and yet his glossy skin flung back the light at eight angles or more.
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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 wisdom of Father Brown

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of The wisdom of Father Brown is here in full — 179 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.
Line 2
He was buttoned and buckled up to his bursting eyeballs in the most brilliant fashion.
Line 3
A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.
Line 4
But somehow the black man was like the black hat.
Line 5
He also was black, and yet his glossy skin flung back the light at eight angles or more.

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.

a

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

also

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

From this reading He also was black, and yet his glossy skin flung back the light at eight angles or more.

an

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

and

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

angles

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

From this reading He also was black, and yet his glossy skin flung back the light at eight angles or more.

appeared

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

at

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

From this reading He also was black, and yet his glossy skin flung back the light at eight angles or more.

back

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

From this reading He also was black, and yet his glossy skin flung back the light at eight angles or more.

black

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

brilliant

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

From this reading He was buttoned and buckled up to his bursting eyeballs in the most brilliant fashion.

broad

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

From this reading A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.

buckled

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

From this reading He was buttoned and buckled up to his bursting eyeballs in the most brilliant fashion.

bursting

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

From this reading He was buttoned and buckled up to his bursting eyeballs in the most brilliant fashion.

But

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

buttoned

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

From this reading He was buttoned and buckled up to his bursting eyeballs in the most brilliant fashion.

compared

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

From this reading A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.

confused

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

different

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

doorway

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

eight

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

From this reading A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.

eyeballs

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

From this reading He was buttoned and buckled up to his bursting eyeballs in the most brilliant fashion.

fashion

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

From this reading He was buttoned and buckled up to his bursting eyeballs in the most brilliant fashion.

figure

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

flung

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

From this reading He also was black, and yet his glossy skin flung back the light at eight angles or more.

for

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

French

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

From this reading A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.

from

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

glossy

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

From this reading He also was black, and yet his glossy skin flung back the light at eight angles or more.

had

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

has

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

From this reading A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.

hat

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

From this reading A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.

he

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

head

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

From this reading A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.

his

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

From this reading He was buttoned and buckled up to his bursting eyeballs in the most brilliant fashion.

in

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

instant

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

light

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

From this reading He also was black, and yet his glossy skin flung back the light at eight angles or more.

like

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

From this reading But somehow the black man was like the black hat.

man

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

From this reading But somehow the black man was like the black hat.

mass

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

mirrors

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

From this reading A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.

more

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

From this reading He also was black, and yet his glossy skin flung back the light at eight angles or more.

most

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

From this reading He was buttoned and buckled up to his bursting eyeballs in the most brilliant fashion.

of

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

on

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

From this reading A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.

or

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

From this reading He also was black, and yet his glossy skin flung back the light at eight angles or more.

skin

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

From this reading He also was black, and yet his glossy skin flung back the light at eight angles or more.

somehow

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

From this reading But somehow the black man was like the black hat.

sort

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

From this reading A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.

tall

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

From this reading A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.

that

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

the

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

tilted

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

From this reading A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.

to

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

From this reading He was buttoned and buckled up to his bursting eyeballs in the most brilliant fashion.

up

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

From this reading He was buttoned and buckled up to his bursting eyeballs in the most brilliant fashion.

very

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

was

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

white

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

From this reading But he was a very different figure from the confused mass of white and black that had appeared for an instant in the doorway.

wit

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

From this reading A tall black hat was tilted on his broad black head--a hat of the sort that the French wit has compared to eight mirrors.

yet

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

From this reading He also was black, and yet his glossy skin flung back the light at eight angles or more.

Chapter 16 of The wisdom of Father Brown by G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton holds 179 sentences, grouped into 36 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 16 of The wisdom of Father Brown contain?

Chapter 16 holds 179 sentences of The wisdom of Father Brown, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of The wisdom of Father Brown by G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 179 sentences, grouped into 36 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 16 of The wisdom of Father Brown?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 wisdom of Father Brown

Common questions about reading The wisdom of Father Brown by G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The wisdom of Father Brown?

Yes. All 3580 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #223 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The wisdom of Father Brown is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #223, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The wisdom of Father Brown take to read?

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

How to read The wisdom of Father Brown section by section

How to work through The wisdom of Father Brown section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 21 chapters of The wisdom of Father Brown 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 wisdom of Father Brown

Words and structures a reader meets early in The wisdom of Father Brown, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Absence
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The wisdom of Father Brown; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Glass
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The wisdom of Father Brown; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Paradise
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The wisdom of Father Brown; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Thieves
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The wisdom of Father Brown; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.