Chapter 1 of A year in China is here in full — 66 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter I
Chapter 1 of A year in China is here in full — 66 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=). AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA. BY MRS. H. DWIGHT WILLIAMS, AUTHOR OF “VOICES FROM THE SILENT LAND.” WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
Chapter 1 of A year in China is here in full — 66 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/13 · 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.
closed in or surrounded or included within
From this reading “Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).”
a state in southeastern United States between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War
From this reading “AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.”
putting someone in prison or in jail as lawful punishment
From this reading “AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.”
serving to open or begin
From this reading “WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.”
plural of “italic” — a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right
From this reading “Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).”
someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading “AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.”
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading “AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.”
plural of “underscore” — a line drawn underneath (especially under written matter)
From this reading “Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).”
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.
In this reading “AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.”
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
In this reading “AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading H. DWIGHT WILLIAMS, AUTHOR OF “VOICES FROM THE SILENT LAND.”
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
fearless and daring
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
confined by bonds
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading H. DWIGHT WILLIAMS, AUTHOR OF “VOICES FROM THE SILENT LAND.”
closed in or surrounded or included within
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
a state in southeastern United States between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading H. DWIGHT WILLIAMS, AUTHOR OF “VOICES FROM THE SILENT LAND.”
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 H. DWIGHT WILLIAMS, AUTHOR OF “VOICES FROM THE SILENT LAND.”
toward home
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
putting someone in prison or in jail as lawful punishment
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
serving to open or begin
From this reading WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
plural of “italic” — a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading H. DWIGHT WILLIAMS, AUTHOR OF “VOICES FROM THE SILENT LAND.”
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading BY MRS.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
a brief written record
From this reading WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
marked by absence of sound
From this reading H. DWIGHT WILLIAMS, AUTHOR OF “VOICES FROM THE SILENT LAND.”
the words of something written
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
plural of “underscore” — a line drawn underneath (especially under written matter)
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading H. DWIGHT WILLIAMS, AUTHOR OF “VOICES FROM THE SILENT LAND.”
at the time that
From this reading AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)
From this reading H. DWIGHT WILLIAMS, AUTHOR OF “VOICES FROM THE SILENT LAND.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
Chapter 1 of A year in China by Martha Noyes Williams holds 66 sentences, grouped into 14 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 66 sentences of A year in China, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of A year in China by Martha Noyes Williams exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 66 sentences, grouped into 14 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 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 14 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.
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Yes. All 2567 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #76474 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #76474, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 213 minutes of reading across 514 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through A year in China section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 16 chapters of A year in China 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 year in China, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
