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A Select Collection of Old English Plays
A Select Collection of Old English Plays

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of A Select Collection of Old English Plays is here in full — 360 sentences across 72 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By William Carew [Editor] Hazlitt • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for A Select Collection of Old English Plays
Context Illustration Reading 1/72 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.
If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).
You may also need to change the default font.
Additional notes are at the end of the book.]
OLD ENGLISH PLAYS.
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 Select Collection of Old English Plays

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of A Select Collection of Old English Plays is here in full — 360 sentences across 72 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/72 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.
Line 2
If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).
Line 3
You may also need to change the default font.
/juː meɪ ˈɔːlsoʊ niːd tuː tʃeɪndʒ ðə dɪˈfɔːlt fɑːnt/
Line 4
Additional notes are at the end of the book.]
/əˈdɪʃənəl noʊts ɑːr æt ðə end ʌv ðə bʊk/
Line 5
OLD ENGLISH PLAYS.
/oʊld ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ pleɪz/

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.

apostrophes noun US /əˈpɑːstrəfiːz/

plural of “apostrophe” — address to an absent or imaginary person

From this reading “If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
default noun US /dɪˈfɔːlt/

loss due to not showing up

From this reading “You may also need to change the default font.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
encoding noun US /enˈkoʊdɪŋ/

the activity of converting data or information into code

From this reading “This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
font noun US /fɑːnt/

a specific size and style of type within a type family

From this reading “You may also need to change the default font.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
garbage noun US /ˈɡɑːrbɪdʒ/

food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)

From this reading “If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
includes verb US /ˌɪnˈkluːdz/

third-person singular of “include” — have as a part, be made up out of

From this reading “This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
quotation noun US /kwoʊˈteɪʃən/

a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage

From this reading “If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reader's noun US /ˈriːdərz/

possessive form of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading

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.

quotation marks noun + noun

In this reading “If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).”

213 times in 426,211 chapters
make sure verb + adjective

make a point of doing something; act purposefully and intentionally

In this reading “If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).”

11,811 times in 426,211 chapters
at the end preposition + article + noun counted as “at … end”

In this reading “Additional notes are at the end of the book.]”

65,688 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 54

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.

8

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

From this reading This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.

Pending verification
AdditionaladjectiveUS /əˈdɪʃənəl/

further or added

From this reading Additional notes are at the end of the book.]

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading You may also need to change the default font.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
apostrophesnounUS /əˈpɑːstrəfiːz/

plural of “apostrophe” — address to an absent or imaginary person

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
appearverbUS /əˈpɪr/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Additional notes are at the end of the book.]

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Additional notes are at the end of the book.]

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading Additional notes are at the end of the book.]

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading You may also need to change the default font.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
characternounUS /ˈkerɪktər/

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
charactersnounUS /ˈkærəktərz/

plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
defaultnounUS /dɪˈfɔːlt/

loss due to not showing up

From this reading You may also need to change the default font.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/

something intended to communicate a particular impression

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
encodingnounUS /enˈkoʊdɪŋ/

the activity of converting data or information into code

From this reading This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Additional notes are at the end of the book.]

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ENGLISHnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/

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 OLD ENGLISH PLAYS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fileverbUS /faɪl/

record in a public office or in a court of law

From this reading This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fontnounUS /fɑːnt/

a specific size and style of type within a type family

From this reading You may also need to change the default font.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
garbagenounUS /ˈɡɑːrbɪdʒ/

food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GreeknounUS /ɡriːk/

the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
includesverbUS /ˌɪnˈkluːdz/

third-person singular of “include” — have as a part, be made up out of

From this reading This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ligaturenoun

(music) a group of notes connected by a slur

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
marksnounUS /mɑːrks/

English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading You may also need to change the default font.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
neednounUS /niːd/

a condition requiring relief

From this reading You may also need to change the default font.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
notesnounUS /noʊts/

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading Additional notes are at the end of the book.]

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Additional notes are at the end of the book.]

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OLDadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading OLD ENGLISH PLAYS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
PLAYSnounUS /pleɪz/

plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage

From this reading OLD ENGLISH PLAYS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
properlyadverbUS /ˈprɑːpərli/

in the right manner; correctly; suitably

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
quotationnounUS /kwoʊˈteɪʃən/

a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reader'snounUS /ˈriːdərz/

possessive form of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
requireverbUS /ˌriːˈkwaɪər/

require as useful, just, or proper

From this reading This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
textnounUS /tekst/

the words of something written

From this reading This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Unicode

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

From this reading This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.

Pending verification
UTF

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

From this reading This text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding.

Pending verification
YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You may also need to change the default font.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
œ

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

From this reading If the œ ligature or characters in Greek do not display properly, or if the apostrophes and quotation marks appear as garbage, make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8).

Pending verification

Chapter 1 of A Select Collection of Old English Plays by William Carew [Editor] Hazlitt holds 360 sentences, grouped into 72 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 Select Collection of Old English Plays contain?

Chapter 1 holds 360 sentences of A Select Collection of Old English Plays, unabridged, divided into 72 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of A Select Collection of Old English Plays by William Carew [Editor] Hazlitt exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 360 sentences, grouped into 72 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 Select Collection of Old English Plays?

Work through the 72 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 72 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 Select Collection of Old English Plays

Common questions about reading A Select Collection of Old English Plays by William Carew [Editor] Hazlitt on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Select Collection of Old English Plays?

Yes. All 6286 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #49550 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Select Collection of Old English Plays is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #49550, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Select Collection of Old English Plays take to read?

About 523 minutes of reading across 1258 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Select Collection of Old English Plays section by section

How to work through A Select Collection of Old English Plays section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Select Collection of Old English Plays

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Select Collection of Old English Plays, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Includes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Select Collection of Old English Plays; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Characters
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Select Collection of Old English Plays; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Require
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Select Collection of Old English Plays; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Unicode
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Select Collection of Old English Plays; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.