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Wilfrid Cumbermede
Wilfrid Cumbermede

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Wilfrid Cumbermede is here in full — 260 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Wilfrid Cumbermede
Context Illustration Reading 1/52 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AN EXPLOSION.
One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.
I remember perfectly what our talk was about.
Charley had started the question: How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’
I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Wilfrid Cumbermede

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Wilfrid Cumbermede is here in full — 260 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/52 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AN EXPLOSION.
/æn ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
Line 2
One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.
Line 3
I remember perfectly what our talk was about.
/aɪ rɪˈmɛm.bər ˈpɜːrfəktli wʌt ˈaʊər tɔːk wɑːz əˈbaʊt/
Line 4
Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’
Line 5
I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

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.

accountable adjective US /əˈkaʊntəbəl/

liable to account for one's actions

From this reading “I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.”

contradiction noun US /ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪkʃən/

opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas

From this reading “I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.”

explosion noun US /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/

a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction

From this reading “AN EXPLOSION.”

harden verb US /ˈhɑːrdən/

become hard or harder

From this reading “Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’”

hardened adjective US /ˈhɑːrdənd/

used of persons; emotionally hardened

From this reading “I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.”

narrator noun US /ˈnereɪtər/

someone who tells a story

From this reading “I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.”

punish verb US /ˈpʌnɪʃ/

impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on

From this reading “Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’”

superstitious adjective US /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃəs/

showing ignorance of the laws of nature and faith in magic or chance

From this reading “I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.”

All words in this reading · 61

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.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading I remember perfectly what our talk was about.

accountableadjectiveUS /əˈkaʊntəbəl/

liable to account for one's actions

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading AN EXPLOSION.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

BiblenounUS /ˈbaɪbəl/

the sacred writings of the Christian religions

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

broughtverbUS /brɔːt/

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

Charley

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

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

contradictionnounUS /ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪkʃən/

opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.

EXPLOSIONnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/

a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction

From this reading AN EXPLOSION.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.

hardenverbUS /ˈhɑːrdən/

become hard or harder

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/

used of persons; emotionally hardened

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

How

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

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I remember perfectly what our talk was about.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.

narratornounUS /ˈnereɪtər/

someone who tells a story

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading I remember perfectly what our talk was about.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.

perfectlyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrfəktli/

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading I remember perfectly what our talk was about.

Pharaoh's

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

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

punishverbUS /ˈpʌnɪʃ/

impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading I remember perfectly what our talk was about.

reverenceverbUS /ˈrevərəns/

regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

sauntered

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

From this reading One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.

simplyadverbUS /ˈsɪmpli/

and nothing more

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

SpringnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.

startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/

past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

suggestedverbUS /səˈdʒestɪd/

past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

superstitiousadjectiveUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃəs/

showing ignorance of the laws of nature and faith in magic or chance

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

talkverbUS /tɔːk/

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading I remember perfectly what our talk was about.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Charley had started the question: ‘How could it be just to harden Pharaoh’s heart and then punish him for what came of it?’

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I remember perfectly what our talk was about.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading One Spring morning we had got up early and sauntered out together.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading I remember perfectly what our talk was about.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading I who had been brought up without any superstitious reverence for the Bible, suggested that the narrator of the story might be accountable for the contradiction, and simply that it was not true that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

Chapter 14 of Wilfrid Cumbermede by George MacDonald holds 260 sentences, grouped into 52 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 14 of Wilfrid Cumbermede contain?

Chapter 14 holds 260 sentences of Wilfrid Cumbermede, unabridged, divided into 52 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of Wilfrid Cumbermede by George MacDonald exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 260 sentences, grouped into 52 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 14 of Wilfrid Cumbermede?

Work through the 52 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 52 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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 Wilfrid Cumbermede

Common questions about reading Wilfrid Cumbermede by George MacDonald on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Wilfrid Cumbermede?

Yes. All 10072 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #9183 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Wilfrid Cumbermede is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #9183, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Wilfrid Cumbermede take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2015 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Wilfrid Cumbermede section by section

How to work through Wilfrid Cumbermede section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Wilfrid Cumbermede 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 Wilfrid Cumbermede

Words and structures a reader meets early in Wilfrid Cumbermede, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Where
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Wilfrid Cumbermede; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Myself
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Wilfrid Cumbermede; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wisest
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Wilfrid Cumbermede; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chicken
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Wilfrid Cumbermede; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.