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Thomas Wingfold, Curate
Thomas Wingfold, Curate

Chapter XXXI · Chapter 31

Chapter 31 of Thomas Wingfold, Curate is here in full — 133 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Thomas Wingfold, Curate
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AN EXAMINATION.
The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.
Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.
Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.
One evening the curate went earlier than usual, and had tea with the Polwarths.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Thomas Wingfold, Curate

Chapter XXXI · Chapter 31

Chapter 31 of Thomas Wingfold, Curate is here in full — 133 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AN EXAMINATION.
/æn ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃən/
Line 2
The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.
Line 3
Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.
Line 4
Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.
/mʌtʃ wɑːz ðen tɔːkt mɔːr wɑːz θɔːt ənd aɪ ˈventʃər tuː seɪ mɔːr jet wɑːz ˌʌndərˈstʊd/
Line 5
One evening the curate went earlier than usual, and had tea with the Polwarths.

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.

curate noun US /ˈkjʊrət/

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading “Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.”

draper noun US /ˈdreɪpər/

a dealer in fabrics and sewing materials (and sometimes in clothing and drygoods)

From this reading “The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.”

earlier adverb US /ˈɜːrliər/

earlier in time; previously

From this reading “One evening the curate went earlier than usual, and had tea with the Polwarths.”

examination noun US /ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃən/

the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)

From this reading “AN EXAMINATION.”

friendship noun US /ˈfrendʃɪp/

the state of being friends (or friendly)

From this reading “The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.”

rapidly adverb US /ˈræpədli/

with speed

From this reading “The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.”

ripened adjective US /ˈraɪpənd/

of wines, fruit, cheeses; having reached a desired or final condition; (“aged” pronounced as one syllable)

From this reading “The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.”

venture noun US /ˈventʃər/

any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome

From this reading “Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.”

All words in this reading · 58

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 Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

acquaintancenounUS /əˈkweɪntəns/

personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading AN EXAMINATION.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.

curatenounUS /ˈkjʊrət/

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

drapernounUS /ˈdreɪpər/

a dealer in fabrics and sewing materials (and sometimes in clothing and drygoods)

From this reading The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.

DrewnounUS /druː/

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

earlieradverbUS /ˈɜːrliər/

earlier in time; previously

From this reading One evening the curate went earlier than usual, and had tea with the Polwarths.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading One evening the curate went earlier than usual, and had tea with the Polwarths.

EXAMINATIONnounUS /ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃən/

the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)

From this reading AN EXAMINATION.

friendshipnounUS /ˈfrendʃɪp/

the state of being friends (or friendly)

From this reading The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.

gate-keeper

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

From this reading The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.

generallyadverbUS /ˈdʒenərəli/

usually; as a rule

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.

leastadjectiveUS /liːst/

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.

MuchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

park-gate

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

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/

an organization to gain political power

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

Polwarth

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

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

Polwarths

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

From this reading One evening the curate went earlier than usual, and had tea with the Polwarths.

rapidlyadverbUS /ˈræpədli/

with speed

From this reading The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.

ripenedadjectiveUS /ˈraɪpənd/

of wines, fruit, cheeses; having reached a desired or final condition; (“aged” pronounced as one syllable)

From this reading The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

shopverbUS /ʃɑːp/

do one's shopping

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

shutverbUS /ʃʌt/

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

talkedverbUS /tɔːkt/

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.

teanounUS /tiː/

a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water

From this reading One evening the curate went earlier than usual, and had tea with the Polwarths.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading One evening the curate went earlier than usual, and had tea with the Polwarths.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The acquaintance between the draper and the gate-keeper rapidly ripened into friendship.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

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

From this reading Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

understoodadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈstʊd/

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.

usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading One evening the curate went earlier than usual, and had tea with the Polwarths.

venturenounUS /ˈventʃər/

any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome

From this reading Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.

VeryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

walknounUS /wɔːk/

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.

weeknounUS /wiːk/

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading One evening the curate went earlier than usual, and had tea with the Polwarths.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading One evening the curate went earlier than usual, and had tea with the Polwarths.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Very generally, as soon as he had shut his shop, Drew would walk to the park-gate to see Polwarth; and three times a week at least, the curate made one of the party.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Much was then talked, more was thought, and I venture to say, more yet was understood.

Chapter 31 of Thomas Wingfold, Curate by George MacDonald holds 133 sentences, grouped into 27 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 31 of Thomas Wingfold, Curate contain?

Chapter 31 holds 133 sentences of Thomas Wingfold, Curate, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 31 of Thomas Wingfold, Curate by George MacDonald exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 133 sentences, grouped into 27 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 31 of Thomas Wingfold, Curate?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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 31 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 31 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 Thomas Wingfold, Curate

Common questions about reading Thomas Wingfold, Curate by George MacDonald on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Thomas Wingfold, Curate?

Yes. All 7326 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5976 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Thomas Wingfold, Curate is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #5976, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Thomas Wingfold, Curate take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1466 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Thomas Wingfold, Curate section by section

How to work through Thomas Wingfold, Curate section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Thomas Wingfold, Curate 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 Thomas Wingfold, Curate

Words and structures a reader meets early in Thomas Wingfold, Curate, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Helen
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Thomas Wingfold, Curate; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lingard
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Thomas Wingfold, Curate; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Swift
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Thomas Wingfold, Curate; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
November
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Thomas Wingfold, Curate; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.