Chapter 1 of Across the Years is here in full — 388 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Across the Years is here in full — 388 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh. "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses. If Samuel Bertram noticed the glance he made no sign. "Hm!" he murmured. "I've got ten neckerchiefs now.
Chapter 1 of Across the Years is here in full — 388 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/77 · 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.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading “"'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.”
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading “"'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.”
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading “"Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.”
past form of “resign” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading “"'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.”
(Old Testament) Hebrew prophet and judge who anointed Saul as king
From this reading “"Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.”
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading “"Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.”
a gradual sinking to a lower level
From this reading “"'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.”
moving very fast
From this reading “"Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.”
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 "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Samuel Bertram noticed the glance he made no sign.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "I've got ten neckerchiefs now.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If Samuel Bertram noticed the glance he made no sign.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
a metric unit of length equal to 100 meters
From this reading "Hm!" he murmured.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've got ten neckerchiefs now.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Samuel Bertram noticed the glance he made no sign.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading If Samuel Bertram noticed the glance he made no sign.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading "Hm!" he murmured.
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 "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've got ten neckerchiefs now.
not any; not one
From this reading If Samuel Bertram noticed the glance he made no sign.
being perceived or observed
From this reading If Samuel Bertram noticed the glance he made no sign.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "I've got ten neckerchiefs now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
above and across; more than
From this reading "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.
past form of “resign” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
(Old Testament) Hebrew prophet and judge who anointed Saul as king
From this reading "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.
a gradual sinking to a lower level
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading If Samuel Bertram noticed the glance he made no sign.
moving very fast
From this reading "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading "I've got ten neckerchiefs now.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
the upper part of anything
From this reading "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person
From this reading "'Tain't more 'n a month ter Christmas, Lyddy Ann; did ye know it?" said the old man, settling back in his chair with a curiously resigned sigh.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, I know, Samuel," returned his wife, sending a swift glance over the top of her glasses.
Chapter 1 of Across the Years by Eleanor H. (Eleanor Hodgman) Porter holds 388 sentences, grouped into 78 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 388 sentences of Across the Years, unabridged, divided into 78 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Across the Years by Eleanor H. (Eleanor Hodgman) Porter exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 388 sentences, grouped into 78 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 78 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 78 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 Across the Years by Eleanor H. (Eleanor Hodgman) Porter on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3631 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6991 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #6991, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 302 minutes of reading across 727 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Across the Years section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 9 chapters of Across the Years 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 Across the Years, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
