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Young Earnest
Young Earnest

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16 of Young Earnest is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Young Earnest
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"I shouldn't have thought----" "I told you she hated me.
I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.
Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.
Drudges, they are, and drabs.
It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."
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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.

Young Earnest

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16 of Young Earnest is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"I shouldn't have thought----" "I told you she hated me.
Line 2
I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.
Line 3
Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.
/oʊ ðeɪ ɑːr ˈklevər ðiːz ˈwɪmən ɪn ðer oʊn miːn ˈlɪtəl weɪ/
Line 4
Drudges, they are, and drabs.
Line 5
It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

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.

asking noun US /ˈæskɪŋ/

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading “It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."”

choose verb US /tʃuːz/

pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading “It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."”

clever adjective US /ˈklevər/

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading “I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.”

drabs noun US /dræbz/

plural of “drab” — a dull greyish to yellowish or light olive brown

From this reading “Drudges, they are, and drabs.”

hated adjective US /ˈheɪtəd/

treated with dislike or contempt

From this reading “"I shouldn't have thought----" "I told you she hated me.”

revenge noun US /riˈvendʒ/

action taken in return for an injury or offense

From this reading “It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."”

sicken verb US /ˈsɪkən/

cause aversion in; offend the moral sense of

From this reading “It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."”

taking noun US /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading “It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."”

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.

clever enough adjective + noun

In this reading “I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.”

get back verb + particle

recover something or somebody that appeared to be lost

In this reading “I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.”

little way adjective + noun

In this reading “Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.”

All words in this reading · 58

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.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Drudges, they are, and drabs.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.

askingnounUS /ˈæskɪŋ/

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

chooseverbUS /tʃuːz/

pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

cleveradjectiveUS /ˈklevər/

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.

didn't

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

From this reading I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.

drabsnounUS /dræbz/

plural of “drab” — a dull greyish to yellowish or light olive brown

From this reading Drudges, they are, and drabs.

Drudges

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

From this reading Drudges, they are, and drabs.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

Fourmy

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

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

hatedadjectiveUS /ˈheɪtəd/

treated with dislike or contempt

From this reading "I shouldn't have thought----" "I told you she hated me.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "I shouldn't have thought----" "I told you she hated me.

how

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

From this reading I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I shouldn't have thought----" "I told you she hated me.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

It's

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

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading "I shouldn't have thought----" "I told you she hated me.

meanverbUS /miːn/

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.

revengenounUS /riˈvendʒ/

action taken in return for an injury or offense

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading "I shouldn't have thought----" "I told you she hated me.

she'd

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

From this reading I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.

shouldn't

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

From this reading "I shouldn't have thought----" "I told you she hated me.

sickenverbUS /ˈsɪkən/

cause aversion in; offend the moral sense of

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading "I shouldn't have thought----" "I told you she hated me.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I didn't think she'd be clever enough to know how to get back at me.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading "I shouldn't have thought----" "I told you she hated me.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading It's men like you, Fourmy, keep them so, asking them for love and taking the much they choose to give you, and when you sicken of it they take their revenge where they can."

womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Oh! they are clever, these women, in their own mean little way.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I shouldn't have thought----" "I told you she hated me.

Chapter 16 of Young Earnest by Gilbert Cannan holds 412 sentences, grouped into 83 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 16 of Young Earnest contain?

Chapter 16 holds 412 sentences of Young Earnest, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of Young Earnest by Gilbert Cannan exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 412 sentences, grouped into 83 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 16 of Young Earnest?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 Young Earnest

Common questions about reading Young Earnest by Gilbert Cannan on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Young Earnest?

Yes. All 7329 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #48487 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Young Earnest is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #48487, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Young Earnest take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1466 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Young Earnest section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 18 chapters of Young Earnest 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 Young Earnest

Words and structures a reader meets early in Young Earnest, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Young Earnest; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Round
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Young Earnest; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Corner
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Young Earnest; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Question
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Young Earnest; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.