Chapter 34 of Wylder's Hand is here in full — 249 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter XXXIV
Chapter 34 of Wylder's Hand is here in full — 249 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
THE CAPTAIN EXPLAINS WHY MARK WYLDER ABSCONDED. 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing. 'You love flowers, Dorkie. Every perfect woman is, I think, a sister of Flora's. You are looking pale--you have not been ill?
Chapter 34 of Wylder's Hand is here in full — 249 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/49 · 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.
past form of “abscond” — run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along
From this reading “THE CAPTAIN EXPLAINS WHY MARK WYLDER ABSCONDED.”
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading “'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.”
having an (artificial) crown on a tooth
From this reading “'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.”
a concave shape whose distinguishing characteristic is that the concavity faces downward
From this reading “'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.”
third-person singular of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading “THE CAPTAIN EXPLAINS WHY MARK WYLDER ABSCONDED.”
pleasant-smelling
From this reading “'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.”
United States inventor who built a steam-powered automobile (1849-1918)
From this reading “'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.”
plural of “violet” — any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading “'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
past form of “abscond” — run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along
From this reading THE CAPTAIN EXPLAINS WHY MARK WYLDER ABSCONDED.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading You are looking pale--you have not been ill?
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading THE CAPTAIN EXPLAINS WHY MARK WYLDER ABSCONDED.
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
having an (artificial) crown on a tooth
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
a concave shape whose distinguishing characteristic is that the concavity faces downward
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'You love flowers, Dorkie.
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every perfect woman is, I think, a sister of Flora's.
third-person singular of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading THE CAPTAIN EXPLAINS WHY MARK WYLDER ABSCONDED.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every perfect woman is, I think, a sister of Flora's.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading 'You love flowers, Dorkie.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
pleasant-smelling
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You are looking pale--you have not been ill?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Every perfect woman is, I think, a sister of Flora's.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading You are looking pale--you have not been ill?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Every perfect woman is, I think, a sister of Flora's.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading You are looking pale--you have not been ill?
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading 'You love flowers, Dorkie.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading THE CAPTAIN EXPLAINS WHY MARK WYLDER ABSCONDED.
a particular point in time
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading You are looking pale--you have not been ill?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Every perfect woman is, I think, a sister of Flora's.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
above and across; more than
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading You are looking pale--you have not been ill?
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading Every perfect woman is, I think, a sister of Flora's.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Every perfect woman is, I think, a sister of Flora's.
be standing; be upright
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
United States inventor who built a steam-powered automobile (1849-1918)
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CAPTAIN EXPLAINS WHY MARK WYLDER ABSCONDED.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Every perfect woman is, I think, a sister of Flora's.
plural of “violet” — any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading 'How delicious these violets are!' said Stanley, leaning for a moment over the fragrant purple dome that crowned a china stand on the marble table they were passing.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading THE CAPTAIN EXPLAINS WHY MARK WYLDER ABSCONDED.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Every perfect woman is, I think, a sister of Flora's.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CAPTAIN EXPLAINS WHY MARK WYLDER ABSCONDED.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'You love flowers, Dorkie.
Chapter 34 of Wylder's Hand by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu holds 249 sentences, grouped into 50 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 34 holds 249 sentences of Wylder's Hand, unabridged, divided into 50 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 34 of Wylder's Hand by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 249 sentences, grouped into 50 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 50 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 50 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 34 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 Wylder's Hand by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 8206 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #9983 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #9983, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1642 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Wylder's Hand section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 40 chapters of Wylder's Hand 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 Wylder's Hand, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
