Chapter 1 of A Vanished Hand is here in full — 119 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter I
Chapter 1 of A Vanished Hand is here in full — 119 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Author of "Where the Dew Falls in London," Etc. Etc. London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good." --WHITTIER. Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
Chapter 1 of A Vanished Hand is here in full — 119 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/23 · 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.
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading “London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."”
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading “Author of "Where the Dew Falls in London," Etc.”
the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)
From this reading “Author of "Where the Dew Falls in London," Etc.”
hold firmly
From this reading “London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."”
possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."”
small in range or scope
From this reading “London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."”
leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading “London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."”
United States poet best known for his nostalgic poems about New England (1807-1892)
From this reading “--WHITTIER.”
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 London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
later than; following
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading Author of "Where the Dew Falls in London," Etc.
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading Author of "Where the Dew Falls in London," Etc.
take in liquids
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of "Where the Dew Falls in London," Etc.
the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)
From this reading Author of "Where the Dew Falls in London," Etc.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
hold firmly
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Author of "Where the Dew Falls in London," Etc.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
small in range or scope
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Author of "Where the Dew Falls in London," Etc.
engage in
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Author of "Where the Dew Falls in London," Etc.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
European strong-scented perennial herb with grey-green bitter-tasting leaves; an irritant similar to poison ivy
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Author of "Where the Dew Falls in London," Etc.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Elsie Kilner had a battle to fight, and it must be fought after her own fashion.
in or at the place that
From this reading Author of "Where the Dew Falls in London," Etc.
United States poet best known for his nostalgic poems about New England (1807-1892)
From this reading --WHITTIER.
fermented juice (of grapes especially)
From this reading London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street "For one shall grasp, and one resign, One drink life's rue, and one its wine, And God shall make the balance good."
Chapter 1 of A Vanished Hand by Sarah Doudney holds 119 sentences, grouped into 24 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 1 holds 119 sentences of A Vanished Hand, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of A Vanished Hand by Sarah Doudney exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 119 sentences, grouped into 24 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 24 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 24 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 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.
Common questions about reading A Vanished Hand by Sarah Doudney on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2292 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #28237 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #28237, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 191 minutes of reading across 459 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through A Vanished Hand section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 19 chapters of A Vanished Hand 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 Vanished Hand, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
