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The wisdom of Father Brown
The wisdom of Father Brown

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The wisdom of Father Brown is here in full — 171 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The wisdom of Father Brown
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
By the way, Malvoli--” Pooley began.
Malvoli,” said the priest, has nothing to do with it.
I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.
They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.
Also,” he added, with a smile, I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The wisdom of Father Brown

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The wisdom of Father Brown is here in full — 171 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
By the way, Malvoli--” Pooley began.
Line 2
Malvoli,” said the priest, “has nothing to do with it.
Line 3
I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.
Line 4
They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.
Line 5
Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

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.

Same adjective US /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading “They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.”

All words in this reading · 68

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 Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

added

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

African

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

all

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

Also

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

amiable

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

From this reading I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.

and

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

any

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

are

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

From this reading I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.

as

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

began

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

From this reading “By the way, Malvoli--” Pooley began.

between

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

blooms

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

but

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

From this reading I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.

By

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

From this reading “By the way, Malvoli--” Pooley began.

character

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

dare

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

From this reading I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.

dark

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

decline

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

dirty

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

distinction

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

do

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

From this reading “Malvoli,” said the priest, “has nothing to do with it.

draw

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

English

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

fear

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

fine

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

foreigners

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

friends

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

From this reading I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.

half-bloods

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

has

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

From this reading “Malvoli,” said the priest, “has nothing to do with it.

he

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

From this reading I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.

him

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

From this reading I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.

I

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

From this reading I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.

it

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

From this reading “Malvoli,” said the priest, “has nothing to do with it.

Italians

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

From this reading I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.

long

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

Malvoli

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

From this reading “By the way, Malvoli--” Pooley began.

moral

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

much

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

my

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

not

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

From this reading I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.

nothing

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

From this reading “Malvoli,” said the priest, “has nothing to do with it.

octoroons

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

of

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

our

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

From this reading I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.

out

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

Pooley

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

From this reading “By the way, Malvoli--” Pooley began.

priest

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

From this reading “Malvoli,” said the priest, “has nothing to do with it.

produced

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

religion

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

said

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

From this reading “Malvoli,” said the priest, “has nothing to do with it.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

say

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

From this reading I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.

shades

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

smile

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

so

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

some

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

From this reading I dare say he has some Italians with him, but our amiable friends are not Italians.

that

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

the

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

From this reading “By the way, Malvoli--” Pooley began.

They

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

think

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

to

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

From this reading “Malvoli,” said the priest, “has nothing to do with it.

various

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

Voodoo

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

way

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

From this reading “By the way, Malvoli--” Pooley began.

we

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

From this reading They are octoroons and African half-bloods of various shades, but I fear we English think all foreigners are much the same so long as they are dark and dirty.

which

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

From this reading Also,” he added, with a smile, “I fear the English decline to draw any fine distinction between the moral character produced by my religion and that which blooms out of Voodoo.”

with

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

From this reading “Malvoli,” said the priest, “has nothing to do with it.

Chapter 17 of The wisdom of Father Brown by G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton holds 171 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 17 of The wisdom of Father Brown contain?

Chapter 17 holds 171 sentences of The wisdom of Father Brown, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 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 171 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 17 of The wisdom of Father Brown?

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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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.