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Under Western Eyes
Under Western Eyes

Chapter XL · Chapter 40

Chapter 40 of Under Western Eyes is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Under Western Eyes
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I gathered this success to my breast.
Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.
With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.
She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.
It was the perfection of collected independence.
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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.

Under Western Eyes

Chapter XL · Chapter 40

Chapter 40 of Under Western Eyes is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I gathered this success to my breast.
/aɪ ˈɡæðərd ðɪs səkˈses tuː maɪ brest/
Line 2
Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.
Line 3
With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.
Line 4
She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.
/ʃiː ɡeɪv miː ə nuː vjuː ʌv hərˈself ənd aɪ mɑːrˈveld æt ðæt ˈsʌmθɪŋ ɡreɪv ənd ˈmeʒərd ɪn hɜːr vɔɪs ɪn hɜːr ˈmuːvmənts ɪn hɜːr ˈmænər/
Line 5
It was the perfection of collected independence.
/ɪt wɑːz ðə pərˈfekʃən ʌv kəˈlektəd ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/

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.

experiences noun US /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/

plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities

From this reading “Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.”

independence noun US /ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/

freedom from control or influence of another or others

From this reading “It was the perfection of collected independence.”

marvelled verb US /mɑːrˈveld/

inflected form of “marvel” — be amazed at

From this reading “She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.”

matured adjective US /məˈtjʊrd/

fully ripe; at the height of bloom

From this reading “Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.”

measured adjective US /ˈmeʒərd/

having notes of fixed rhythmic value

From this reading “She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.”

perfection noun US /pərˈfekʃən/

the state of being without a flaw or defect

From this reading “It was the perfection of collected independence.”

profile noun US /ˈproʊfaɪl/

an analysis (often in graphical form) representing the extent to which something exhibits various characteristics

From this reading “With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.”

resolute adjective US /ˈrezəluːt/

firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination

From this reading “With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.”

All words in this reading · 55

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 With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.

armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/

weapons considered collectively

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

breastnounUS /brest/

the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen

From this reading I gathered this success to my breast.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.

collectedadjectiveUS /kəˈlektəd/

brought together in one place

From this reading It was the perfection of collected independence.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/

plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities

From this reading Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.

foldedverbUS /ˈfoʊldəd/

past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

gatheredadjectiveUS /ˈɡæðərd/

brought together in one place

From this reading I gathered this success to my breast.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

gravenounUS /ɡreɪv/

death of a person

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

Haldin

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

From this reading Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I gathered this success to my breast.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

independencenounUS /ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/

freedom from control or influence of another or others

From this reading It was the perfection of collected independence.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the perfection of collected independence.

lengthnounUS /leŋkθ/

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.

mannernounUS /ˈmænər/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

marvelledverbUS /mɑːrˈveld/

inflected form of “marvel” — be amazed at

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

maturedadjectiveUS /məˈtjʊrd/

fully ripe; at the height of bloom

From this reading Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

measuredadjectiveUS /ˈmeʒərd/

having notes of fixed rhythmic value

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

movementsnounUS /ˈmuːvmənts/

plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I gathered this success to my breast.

Natalia

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

From this reading Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.

perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/

the state of being without a flaw or defect

From this reading It was the perfection of collected independence.

profilenounUS /ˈproʊfaɪl/

an analysis (often in graphical form) representing the extent to which something exhibits various characteristics

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

resoluteadjectiveUS /ˈrezəluːt/

firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading Natalia Haldin looked matured by her open and secret experiences.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

smooth-browed

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

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

successnounUS /səkˈses/

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading I gathered this success to my breast.

talkingnounUS /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading I gathered this success to my breast.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I gathered this success to my breast.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

viewnounUS /vjuː/

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

voicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading She gave me a new view of herself, and I marvelled at that something grave and measured in her voice, in her movements, in her manner.

walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was the perfection of collected independence.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With her arms folded she walked up and down the whole length of the room, talking slowly, smooth-browed, with a resolute profile.

Chapter 40 of Under Western Eyes by Joseph Conrad holds 207 sentences, grouped into 42 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, 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 40 of Under Western Eyes contain?

Chapter 40 holds 207 sentences of Under Western Eyes, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 40 of Under Western Eyes by Joseph Conrad exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 207 sentences, grouped into 42 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 40 of Under Western Eyes?

Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 42 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 40 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 40 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 Under Western Eyes

Common questions about reading Under Western Eyes by Joseph Conrad on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Under Western Eyes?

Yes. All 8310 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2480 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Under Western Eyes is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2480, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Under Western Eyes take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1662 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Under Western Eyes section by section

How to work through Under Western Eyes section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Under Western Eyes 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 Under Western Eyes

Words and structures a reader meets early in Under Western Eyes, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Liberty
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Under Western Eyes; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hungry
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Under Western Eyes; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Snatch
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Under Western Eyes; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Piece
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Under Western Eyes; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.