Chapter 4 of Washington Square is here in full — 184 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of Washington Square is here in full — 184 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown. “He doesn’t like me—he doesn’t like me at all!” said the young man. “Who doesn’t like you?” asked Catherine. “Your father; extraordinary man!” “I don’t see how you know,” said Catherine, blushing.
Chapter 4 of Washington Square is here in full — 184 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
having a red face from embarrassment or shame or agitation or emotional upset
From this reading ““I don’t see how you know,” said Catherine, blushing.”
first wife of Henry VIII; Henry VIII's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485-1536)
From this reading “After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.”
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading “After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.”
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading ““Your father; extraordinary man!””
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading “After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.”
United States suffragist in Wyoming (1814-1902)
From this reading “After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.”
a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back
From this reading “After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.”
United States social reformer who proposed an old-age pension sponsored by the federal government; his plan was a precursor to Social Security (1867-1960)
From this reading “After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.”
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.
later than; following
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “He doesn’t like me—he doesn’t like me at all!” said the young man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Who doesn’t like you?” asked Catherine.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “He doesn’t like me—he doesn’t like me at all!” said the young man.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
having a red face from embarrassment or shame or agitation or emotional upset
From this reading “I don’t see how you know,” said Catherine, blushing.
first wife of Henry VIII; Henry VIII's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485-1536)
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He doesn’t like me—he doesn’t like me at all!” said the young man.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t see how you know,” said Catherine, blushing.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading “Your father; extraordinary man!”
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “Your father; extraordinary man!”
start firing a weapon
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “He doesn’t like me—he doesn’t like me at all!” said the young man.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t see how you know,” said Catherine, blushing.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don’t see how you know,” said Catherine, blushing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “I don’t see how you know,” said Catherine, blushing.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “He doesn’t like me—he doesn’t like me at all!” said the young man.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “He doesn’t like me—he doesn’t like me at all!” said the young man.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “He doesn’t like me—he doesn’t like me at all!” said the young man.
United States suffragist in Wyoming (1814-1902)
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “He doesn’t like me—he doesn’t like me at all!” said the young man.
a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “I don’t see how you know,” said Catherine, blushing.
having a supporting base
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
United States social reformer who proposed an old-age pension sponsored by the federal government; his plan was a precursor to Social Security (1867-1960)
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
which person or people
From this reading After dinner Morris Townsend went and stood before Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red satin gown.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Who doesn’t like you?” asked Catherine.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading “He doesn’t like me—he doesn’t like me at all!” said the young man.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Your father; extraordinary man!”
Chapter 4 of Washington Square by Henry James holds 184 sentences, grouped into 37 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.
Chapter 4 holds 184 sentences of Washington Square, unabridged, divided into 37 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of Washington Square by Henry James exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 184 sentences, grouped into 37 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.
Work through the 37 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 37 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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.
Common questions about reading Washington Square by Henry James on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3988 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2870 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #2870, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 332 minutes of reading across 798 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Washington Square section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 20 chapters of Washington Square to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Washington Square, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
