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A Letter to A.H. Esq.
A Letter to A.H. Esq.

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of A Letter to A.H. Esq. is here in full — 348 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Letter to A.H. Esq.
Context Illustration Reading 1/69 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).
In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.
The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.
The two anonymous essays here were part of a series of essays on the stage.
Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.
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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.

A Letter to A.H. Esq.

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of A Letter to A.H. Esq. is here in full — 348 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/69 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).
Line 2
In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.
Line 3
The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.
/ðə səˈsaɪəti riˈprɪntɪd ˈmeni rer wɜːrks drɔːn ˈlɑːrdʒli frʌm ðə kəˈlekʃənz ʌv ðə ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəti ʌv ˌkælɪˈfɔːrnjəz ˈlaɪbreriː/
Line 4
The two anonymous essays here were part of a series of essays on the stage.
/ðə tuː əˈnɑːnəməs eˈseɪz hiːr wɜːr pɑːrt ʌv ə ˈsɪriz ʌv eˈseɪz ɑːn ðə steɪdʒ/
Line 5
Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

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.

California's noun US /ˌkælɪˈfɔːrnjəz/

possessive form of “california” — a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes

From this reading “The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.”

collections noun US /kəˈlekʃənz/

plural of “collection” — several things grouped together or considered as a whole

From this reading “The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.”

entitles verb US /enˈtaɪtəlz/

third-person singular of “entitle” — give the right to

From this reading “Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.”

Membership noun US /ˈmembərʃɪp/

the body of members of an organization or group

From this reading “Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.”

publications noun US /ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃənz/

plural of “publication” — a copy of a printed work offered for distribution

From this reading “Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.”

Reprint noun US /riˈprɪnt/

a publication (such as a book) that is reprinted without changes or editing and offered again for sale

From this reading “In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.”

reprinted verb US /riˈprɪntɪd/

past form of “reprint” — print anew

From this reading “The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.”

subscriber noun US /səbˈskraɪbər/

someone who expresses strong approval

From this reading “Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.”

All words in this reading · 70

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.

1906

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

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

1946

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

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

1978

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

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

75

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

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

Angeles

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

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

anonymousadjectiveUS /əˈnɑːnəməs/

having no known name or identity or known source

From this reading The two anonymous essays here were part of a series of essays on the stage.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

Augustanadjective

relating to or characteristic of the times of the Roman Emperor Augustus

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

BoysnounUS /bɔɪz/

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

CnounUS /siː/

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

CalifornianounUS /ˌkæləˈfɔːrnjə/

a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

California'snounUS /ˌkælɪˈfɔːrnjəz/

possessive form of “california” — a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes

From this reading The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.

collectionsnounUS /kəˈlekʃənz/

plural of “collection” — several things grouped together or considered as a whole

From this reading The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.

drawnadjectiveUS /drɔːn/

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

editornounUS /ˈedətər/

a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

EdwardnounUS /ˈedwərd/

King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

entitlesverbUS /enˈtaɪtəlz/

third-person singular of “entitle” — give the right to

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

essaysnounUS /eˈseɪz/

plural of “essay” — an analytic or interpretive literary composition

From this reading The two anonymous essays here were part of a series of essays on the stage.

foundedverbUS /ˈfaʊndɪd/

past form of “found” — set up or found

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.

generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

HnounUS /eɪtʃ/

a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading The two anonymous essays here were part of a series of essays on the stage.

HookernounUS /ˈhʊkər/

United States general in the Union Army who was defeated at Chancellorsville by Robert E. Lee (1814-1879)

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

IntroductionnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/

the act of beginning something new

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

issuedverbUS /ˈɪʃuːd/

past form of “issue” — prepare and issue for public distribution or sale

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

JrnounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/

a son who has the same first name as his father

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

largelyadverbUS /ˈlɑːrdʒli/

in large part; mainly or chiefly

From this reading The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.

librarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/

a room where books are kept

From this reading The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.

Los

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

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.

MembershipnounUS /ˈmembərʃɪp/

the body of members of an organization or group

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

NnounUS /en/

a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

NotenounUS /noʊt/

a brief written record

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The two anonymous essays here were part of a series of essays on the stage.

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading The two anonymous essays here were part of a series of essays on the stage.

PricenounUS /praɪs/

the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

professornounUS /prəˈfesər/

someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

publicationsnounUS /ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃənz/

plural of “publication” — a copy of a printed work offered for distribution

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

rareadjectiveUS /rer/

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.

ReprintnounUS /riˈprɪnt/

a publication (such as a book) that is reprinted without changes or editing and offered again for sale

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

reprintedverbUS /riˈprɪntɪd/

past form of “reprint” — print anew

From this reading The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.

Richard

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

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/

the month following August and preceding October

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

seriesnounUS /ˈsɪriz/

similar things placed in order or happening one after another

From this reading The two anonymous essays here were part of a series of essays on the stage.

sixnounUS /sɪks/

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

SocietynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

stagenounUS /steɪdʒ/

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading The two anonymous essays here were part of a series of essays on the stage.

subscribernounUS /səbˈskraɪbər/

someone who expresses strong approval

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

Swedenberg

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

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

TnounUS /tiː/

a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

ThreenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The two anonymous essays here were part of a series of essays on the stage.

UniversitynounUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəti/

the body of faculty and students at a university

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University of California (Los Angeles).

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The two anonymous essays here were part of a series of essays on the stage.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with Swedenberg as general editor.

worksnounUS /wɜːrks/

buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading The Society reprinted many rare works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of California's library.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Series Three: Essays on the Stage With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. The Augustan Reprint Society September, 1946 Price: 75c Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year.

Chapter 1 of A Letter to A.H. Esq. by H. T. (Hugh Thomas) [Author of introduction, etc.] Swedenberg holds 348 sentences, grouped into 70 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 1 of A Letter to A.H. Esq. contain?

Chapter 1 holds 348 sentences of A Letter to A.H. Esq., unabridged, divided into 70 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of A Letter to A.H. Esq. by H. T. (Hugh Thomas) [Author of introduction, etc.] Swedenberg exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 348 sentences, grouped into 70 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 1 of A Letter to A.H. Esq.?

Work through the 70 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 70 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 A Letter to A.H. Esq.

Common questions about reading A Letter to A.H. Esq. by H. T. (Hugh Thomas) [Author of introduction, etc.] Swedenberg on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Letter to A.H. Esq.?

Yes. All 348 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #14047 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Letter to A.H. Esq. is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #14047, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Letter to A.H. Esq. take to read?

About 29 minutes of reading across 70 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Letter to A.H. Esq. section by section

How to work through A Letter to A.H. Esq. section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of A Letter to A.H. Esq. 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 A Letter to A.H. Esq.

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Letter to A.H. Esq., each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Swedenberg
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Letter to A.H. Esq.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Professor
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Letter to A.H. Esq.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
University
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Letter to A.H. Esq.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
California
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Letter to A.H. Esq.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.