Chapter 15 of A Brief History of the English Language — Vol. 2 is here in full — 81 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XV
Chapter 15 of A Brief History of the English Language — Vol. 2 is here in full — 81 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
+African+ words in English, 263. +American+ words in English, 263. +Analytic+ English (= modern), 239 {III.2}. +Ancient+ English, 199 {I.4}. synthetic, 239 {III.1}. +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
Chapter 15 of A Brief History of the English Language — Vol. 2 is here in full — 81 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/16 · 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.
of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples
From this reading “+African+ words in English, 263.”
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading “+American+ words in English, 263.”
using or subjected to a methodology using algebra and calculus
From this reading “+Analytic+ English (= modern), 239 {III.2}.”
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading “+Ancient+ English, 199 {I.4}. synthetic, 239 {III.1}.”
past form of “contrast” — put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
From this reading “+Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.”
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading “+Analytic+ English (= modern), 239 {III.2}.”
an example regarded as typical of its class
From this reading “+Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.”
not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially
From this reading “+Ancient+ English, 199 {I.4}. synthetic, 239 {III.1}.”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading +Ancient+ English, 199 {I.4}. synthetic, 239 {III.1}.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading +Ancient+ English, 199 {I.4}. synthetic, 239 {III.1}.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading +Analytic+ English (= modern), 239 {III.2}.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading +Analytic+ English (= modern), 239 {III.2}.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading +African+ words in English, 263.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading +Ancient+ English, 199 {I.4}. synthetic, 239 {III.1}.
of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples
From this reading +African+ words in English, 263.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading +American+ words in English, 263.
using or subjected to a methodology using algebra and calculus
From this reading +Analytic+ English (= modern), 239 {III.2}.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading +Ancient+ English, 199 {I.4}. synthetic, 239 {III.1}.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
a native or inhabitant of England prior to the Norman Conquest
From this reading +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
past form of “contrast” — put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
From this reading +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading +African+ words in English, 263.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading +Ancient+ English, 199 {I.4}. synthetic, 239 {III.1}.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading +Analytic+ English (= modern), 239 {III.2}.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading +African+ words in English, 263.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading +Analytic+ English (= modern), 239 {III.2}.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
an example regarded as typical of its class
From this reading +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially
From this reading +Ancient+ English, 199 {I.4}. synthetic, 239 {III.1}.
English translator and Protestant martyr
From this reading +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
in the company of; together with
From this reading +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
the words that are spoken
From this reading +African+ words in English, 263.
English theologian whose objections to Roman Catholic doctrine anticipated the Protestant Reformation (1328-1384)
From this reading +Anglo-Saxon+, specimen from, 250 {IV.2}. contrasted with English of Wyclif and Tyndale, 251 {IV.3}.
Chapter 15 of A Brief History of the English Language — Vol. 2 by J. M. D. (John Miller Dow) Meiklejohn holds 81 sentences, grouped into 17 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 15 holds 81 sentences of A Brief History of the English Language — Vol. 2, unabridged, divided into 17 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 15 of A Brief History of the English Language — Vol. 2 by J. M. D. (John Miller Dow) Meiklejohn exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 81 sentences, grouped into 17 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 17 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 17 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 15 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 A Brief History of the English Language — Vol. 2 by J. M. D. (John Miller Dow) Meiklejohn on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4412 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #21665 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #21665, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 367 minutes of reading across 883 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through A Brief History of the English Language — Vol. 2 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 16 chapters of A Brief History of the English Language — Vol. 2 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 A Brief History of the English Language — Vol. 2, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
