Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
A Modern Wizard
A Modern Wizard

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of A Modern Wizard is here in full — 290 sentences across 58 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Rodrigues Ottolengui • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for A Modern Wizard
Context Illustration Reading 1/58 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.
Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.
The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.
Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.
Robert Bliss was two years younger.
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.

A Modern Wizard

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of A Modern Wizard is here in full — 290 sentences across 58 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/58 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.
Line 2
Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.
Line 3
The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.
Line 4
Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.
Line 5
Robert Bliss was two years younger.
/ˈrɑːbərt blɪs wɑːz tuː jɪrz ˈjʌŋɡər/

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.

bliss noun US /blɪs/

a state of extreme happiness

From this reading “The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
conflict noun US /ˈkɑːnflɪkt/

an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)

From this reading “RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eighteen adjective US /eɪˈtiːn/

being one more than seventeen

From this reading “Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gilt adjective US /ɡɪlt/

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading “The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lawyers noun US /ˈlɔːjərz/

plural of “lawyer” — a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice

From this reading “Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Mortimer noun US /ˈmɔːrtɪmər/

English nobleman who deposed Edward II and was executed by Edward III (1287-1330)

From this reading “Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Printed verb US /ˈprɪntɪd/

past form of “print” — put into print

From this reading “Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
senior adjective US /ˈsiːnjər/

older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service

From this reading “Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.”

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.

thirty years noun + noun

In this reading “Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.”

9,905 times in 225,867 chapters
gilt letters adjective + noun

In this reading “The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.”

298 times in 225,867 chapters
eighteen hundred adjective + noun

In this reading “Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.”

1,513 times in 225,867 chapters
private office adjective + noun

In this reading “Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.”

2,081 times in 225,867 chapters
senior member adjective + noun

In this reading “Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.”

194 times in 225,867 chapters
two years noun + noun

In this reading “Robert Bliss was two years younger.”

27,789 times in 225,867 chapters
young lawyers adjective + noun counted as “young lawyer”

In this reading “Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.”

1,231 times in 225,867 chapters
over thirty preposition + noun

In this reading “Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.”

920 times in 225,867 chapters

All words in this reading · 63

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 RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.

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 RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ARTISTnounUS /ˈɑːrtəst/

a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BLISSnounUS /blɪs/

a state of extreme happiness

From this reading The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BoundadjectiveUS /baʊnd/

confined by bonds

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CONFLICTnounUS /ˈkɑːnflɪkt/

an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)

From this reading RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CRIMEnounUS /kraɪm/

(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act

From this reading RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.

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 firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DUDLEY

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

From this reading The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.

Pending verification
EarlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/

being one more than seventeen

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Electrotyped

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

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

Pending verification
ETC

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

From this reading RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.

Pending verification
EVIDENCEnounUS /ˈevədəns/

your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
firmadjectiveUS /fɜːrm/

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

From this reading The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GnounUS /dʒiː/

a metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
giltadjectiveUS /ɡɪlt/

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
glassnounUS /ɡlæs/

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Knickerbocker

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

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

Pending verification
lawyersnounUS /ˈlɔːjərz/

plural of “lawyer” — a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lettersnounUS /ˈletərz/

the literary culture

From this reading The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
membernounUS /ˈmembər/

one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MortimernounUS /ˈmɔːrtɪmər/

English nobleman who deposed Edward II and was executed by Edward III (1287-1330)

From this reading Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NewadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OTTOLENGUI

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

From this reading RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.

Pending verification
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
PnounUS /piː/

a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
paintedadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪntɪd/

coated with paint

From this reading The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PressverbUS /pres/

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PrintedverbUS /ˈprɪntɪd/

past form of “print” — put into print

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
privateadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪvət/

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PUTNAM'S

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

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

Pending verification
RobertnounUS /ˈrɑːbərt/

United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)

From this reading Robert Bliss was two years younger.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RODRIGUES

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

From this reading RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI AUTHOR OF "AN ARTIST IN CRIME," "A CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE," ETC.

Pending verification
seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
senioradjectiveUS /ˈsiːnjər/

older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service

From this reading Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seventy-threeadjective

being three more than seventy

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SONSnounUS /sʌnz/

plural of “son” — a male human offspring

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

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 Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thirtynounUS /ˈθɜːrdiː/

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The firm name, painted in gilt letters upon the glass of the door, was DUDLEY & BLISS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading Mortimer Dudley was the senior member, though not over thirty years old.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
YorknounUS /jɔːrk/

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by The Knickerbocker Press, New York G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Early one morning, in the spring of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, two young lawyers were seated in their private office.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youngeradjectiveUS /ˈjʌŋɡər/

used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father

From this reading Robert Bliss was two years younger.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 1 of A Modern Wizard by Rodrigues Ottolengui holds 290 sentences, grouped into 58 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 Modern Wizard contain?

Chapter 1 holds 290 sentences of A Modern Wizard, unabridged, divided into 58 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of A Modern Wizard by Rodrigues Ottolengui exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 290 sentences, grouped into 58 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 Modern Wizard?

Work through the 58 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 58 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 Modern Wizard

Common questions about reading A Modern Wizard by Rodrigues Ottolengui on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Modern Wizard?

Yes. All 7013 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32985 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Modern Wizard is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #32985, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Modern Wizard take to read?

About 584 minutes of reading across 1403 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Modern Wizard section by section

How to work through A Modern Wizard section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of A Modern Wizard 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 Modern Wizard

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Modern Wizard, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Rodrigues
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Modern Wizard; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ottolengui
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Modern Wizard; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Modern Wizard; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Artist
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Modern Wizard; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.