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Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs
Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs

Chapter XXXI

Chapter 31 of Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs is here in full — 243 sentences across 49 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By S. (Sabine) Baring-Gould • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs
Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.
She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.
On asking her business, she answered, 'I want to see Winefred Holwood.'
'_Miss_ Holwood,' said the maid, with emphasis.
'Miss Holwood is not at home.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs

Chapter XXXI

Chapter 31 of Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs is here in full — 243 sentences across 49 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.
Line 2
She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.
/ʃiː sɔː bɪˈfɔːr hɜːr baɪ ðə ˈflɪkər ʌv ðə ɔɪl læmp ˈoʊvərˈhed ə ˈwʊmən ˈstændɪŋ ɑːn ðə step/
Line 3
On asking her business, she answered, 'I want to see Winefred Holwood.'
Line 4
'_Miss_ Holwood,' said the maid, with emphasis.
Line 5
'Miss Holwood is not at home.

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.

assembly noun US /əˈsembli/

a group of machine parts that fit together to form a self-contained unit

From this reading “THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bath noun US /bæθ/

a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)

From this reading “THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
emphasis noun US /ˈemfəsəs/

special importance or significance

From this reading “'_Miss_ Holwood,' said the maid, with emphasis.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flicker verb US /ˈflɪkər/

move back and forth very rapidly

From this reading “She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
imperious adj US /ɪmˈpɪr.i.əs/

Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering. (Hách dịch, độc đoán, kiêu kỳ.)

From this reading “THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.”

Velmora curated lexicon
overhead adverb US /ˈoʊvərˈhed/

above your head; in the sky

From this reading “She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rap noun US /ræp/

a reproach for some lapse or misdeed

From this reading “THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
unprecedented adjective US /ənˈpresɪdentɪd/

having no precedent; novel

From this reading “THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

oil lamp noun + noun

a lamp that burns oil (as kerosine) for light

In this reading “She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.”

860 times in 426,211 chapters
at home preposition + noun

a reception held in your own home

In this reading “'Miss Holwood is not at home.”

94,709 times in 426,211 chapters
with emphasis preposition + noun

In this reading “'_Miss_ Holwood,' said the maid, with emphasis.”

2,500 times in 426,211 chapters
in response preposition + noun

In this reading “THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.”

5,706 times in 426,211 chapters
at night preposition + noun

In this reading “THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.”

45,941 times in 426,211 chapters
flicker of verb + particle

In this reading “She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.”

2,249 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 56

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 THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading On asking her business, she answered, 'I want to see Winefred Holwood.'

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
askingnounUS /ˈæskɪŋ/

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading On asking her business, she answered, 'I want to see Winefred Holwood.'

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ASSEMBLYnounUS /əˈsembli/

a group of machine parts that fit together to form a self-contained unit

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BATHnounUS /bæθ/

a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading On asking her business, she answered, 'I want to see Winefred Holwood.'

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
cameverbUS /keɪm/

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

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
emphasisnounUS /ˈemfəsəs/

special importance or significance

From this reading '_Miss_ Holwood,' said the maid, with emphasis.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flickerverbUS /ˈflɪkər/

move back and forth very rapidly

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Holwood

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

From this reading On asking her business, she answered, 'I want to see Winefred Holwood.'

Pending verification
homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading 'Miss Holwood is not at home.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading On asking her business, she answered, 'I want to see Winefred Holwood.'

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
imperiousadjUS /ɪmˈpɪr.i.əs/

Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering. (Hách dịch, độc đoán, kiêu kỳ.)

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

Velmora curated lexicon
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading 'Miss Holwood is not at home.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
lampnounUS /læmp/

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
maidnounUS /meɪd/

a female domestic

From this reading '_Miss_ Holwood,' said the maid, with emphasis.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
maid-servant

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

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

Pending verification
MissverbUS /mɪs/

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading '_Miss_ Holwood,' said the maid, with emphasis.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading 'Miss Holwood is not at home.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

Velmora curated lexicon
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/

above your head; in the sky

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rapnounUS /ræp/

a reproach for some lapse or misdeed

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/

a result

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ringverbUS /rɪŋ/

sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading '_Miss_ Holwood,' said the maid, with emphasis.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading On asking her business, she answered, 'I want to see Winefred Holwood.'

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/

having a supporting base

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stepnounUS /step/

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
unprecedentedadjectiveUS /ənˈpresɪdentɪd/

having no precedent; novel

From this reading THE BATH ASSEMBLY The maid-servant at the house round the corner opened the door in response to a sharp ring and an imperious rap, though they came at an unprecedented hour at night.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading On asking her business, she answered, 'I want to see Winefred Holwood.'

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Winefred

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

From this reading On asking her business, she answered, 'I want to see Winefred Holwood.'

Pending verification
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading '_Miss_ Holwood,' said the maid, with emphasis.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading She saw before her, by the flicker of the oil lamp overhead, a woman standing on the step.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 31 of Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs by S. (Sabine) Baring-Gould holds 243 sentences, grouped into 49 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 31 of Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs contain?

Chapter 31 holds 243 sentences of Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs, unabridged, divided into 49 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 31 of Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs by S. (Sabine) Baring-Gould exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 243 sentences, grouped into 49 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 Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs?

Work through the 49 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 49 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 Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs

Common questions about reading Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs by S. (Sabine) Baring-Gould on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs?

Yes. All 8677 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #53567 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #53567, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1736 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs section by section

How to work through Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs

Words and structures a reader meets early in Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Story
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chalk
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cliffs
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Eight
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.