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Adrienne Toner: A Novel
Adrienne Toner: A Novel

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Adrienne Toner: A Novel is here in full — 149 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Anne Douglas Sedgwick • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Adrienne Toner: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.
"Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.
He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.
"There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."
Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.
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.

Adrienne Toner: A Novel

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Adrienne Toner: A Novel is here in full — 149 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.
Line 2
"Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.
Line 3
He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.
Line 4
"There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."
/ðer ɪz ˈɡoʊɪŋ tuː biː æn ˈɪntrəstɪŋ ɡɜːrl wɪð ʌs əˈmerəkən ˈveri ərˈɪdʒənəl ənd ˈtʃɑːrmɪŋ/
Line 5
Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.

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.

desultory adjective US /ˈdesəltɔːri/

marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another

From this reading “He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
encounter verb US /ɪnˈkaʊntər/

come together

From this reading “AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Franck noun US /fræŋk/

French composer and teacher who influenced a generation of composers (1822-1890)

From this reading “He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
franklin noun US /ˈfræŋklɪn/

United States historian noted for studies of Black American history (born in 1915)

From this reading “AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pausing verb US /ˈpɔːzɪŋ/

-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading “He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
preoccupation noun US /priˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/

an idea that preoccupies the mind and holds the attention

From this reading “He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
silhouetted verb US /ˌsɪləˈwetɪd/

past form of “silhouette” — project on a background, such as a screen, like a silhouette

From this reading “Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Thames noun US /temz/

the longest river in England; flows eastward through London to the North Sea

From this reading “He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.”

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.

silhouetted against verb + particle counted as “silhouette against”

In this reading “Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.”

271 times in 426,211 chapters
against the sky preposition + article + noun counted as “against … sky”

In this reading “Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.”

3,578 times in 426,211 chapters
glance at verb + particle

In this reading “He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.”

58,318 times in 426,211 chapters
Come down verb + adjective

move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

In this reading “"Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.”

63,240 times in 426,211 chapters
around the room preposition + article + noun counted as “around … room”

In this reading “He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.”

2,798 times in 426,211 chapters
look down verb + adjective

In this reading “He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.”

30,774 times in 426,211 chapters
on the piano preposition + article + noun counted as “on … piano”

In this reading “He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.”

1,911 times in 426,211 chapters
at the window preposition + article + noun counted as “at … window”

In this reading “He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.”

13,779 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 77

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.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading "There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anxietynounUS /æŋˈzaɪəti/

(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Barney

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

From this reading "Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.

Pending verification
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
betrayedverbUS /bɪˈtreɪd/

past form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Chadwick

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

From this reading "Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.

Pending verification
charmingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɑːrmɪŋ/

pleasing or delighting

From this reading "There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CHRISTMASnounUS /ˈkrɪsməs/

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Coldbrooks

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

From this reading "Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.

Pending verification
ComeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
César

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

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

Pending verification
darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
desultoryadjectiveUS /ˈdesəltɔːri/

marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading "Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ENCOUNTERverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/

come together

From this reading AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ETC

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.

Pending verification
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FrancknounUS /fræŋk/

French composer and teacher who influenced a generation of composers (1822-1890)

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FRANKLINnounUS /ˈfræŋklɪn/

United States historian noted for studies of Black American history (born in 1915)

From this reading AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading "There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
glanceverbUS /ɡlæns/

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading "There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
intentionnounUS /ˌɪnˈtentʃən/

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
interestingadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading "There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."

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 "There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
KANE

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.

Pending verification
lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading "Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Oldmeadow

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

From this reading Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.

Pending verification
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
originaladjectiveUS /ərˈɪdʒənəl/

preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed

From this reading "There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OTHERadjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pausingverbUS /ˈpɔːzɪŋ/

-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/

a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
preoccupationnounUS /priˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/

an idea that preoccupies the mind and holds the attention

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Roger

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

From this reading "Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.

Pending verification
roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ROSESnounUS /ˈroʊzɪz/

plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
silhouettedverbUS /ˌsɪləˈwetɪd/

past form of “silhouette” — project on a background, such as a screen, like a silhouette

From this reading Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STORIESnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/

plural of “story” — 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 AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TANTE

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.

Pending verification
ThamesnounUS /temz/

the longest river in England; flows eastward through London to the North Sea

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

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 AUTHOR OF "CHRISTMAS ROSES, AND OTHER STORIES," "TANTE" "FRANKLIN KANE," "THE ENCOUNTER," ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading "There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading "There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wanderingadjectiveUS /ˈwɑːndərɪŋ/

migratory

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
week-end

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

From this reading "Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.

Pending verification
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading He had been wandering around the room, pausing once to glance at the César Franck on the piano and once at the window to look down at the Thames, and his voice now, though desultory in intention, betrayed to his friend preoccupation and even anxiety.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "There is going to be an interesting girl with us: American; very original and charming."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
writing-bureau

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

From this reading Roger Oldmeadow sat at his writing-bureau in the window, and his high dark head was silhouetted against the sky.

Pending verification
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Come down to Coldbrooks next week-end, will you, Roger?" said Barney Chadwick.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of Adrienne Toner: A Novel by Anne Douglas Sedgwick holds 149 sentences, grouped into 30 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 Adrienne Toner: A Novel contain?

Chapter 1 holds 149 sentences of Adrienne Toner: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 30 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Adrienne Toner: A Novel by Anne Douglas Sedgwick exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 149 sentences, grouped into 30 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 Adrienne Toner: A Novel?

Work through the 30 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 30 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 Adrienne Toner: A Novel

Common questions about reading Adrienne Toner: A Novel by Anne Douglas Sedgwick on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Adrienne Toner: A Novel?

Yes. All 7553 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #42428 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Adrienne Toner: A Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #42428, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Adrienne Toner: A Novel take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1511 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Adrienne Toner: A Novel section by section

How to work through Adrienne Toner: A Novel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 33 chapters of Adrienne Toner: A Novel 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 Adrienne Toner: A Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in Adrienne Toner: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Adrienne Toner: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Christmas
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Adrienne Toner: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Roses
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Adrienne Toner: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Other
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Adrienne Toner: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.