Billy Bounce

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Billy Bounce is here in full — 12 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By W. W. (William Wallace) Denslow • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

See https:// List of Chapters.

"_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.

--Page 47....Frontispiece.

PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

14 _"Now," said Mr. Gas, "be careful not to sit on the ceiling."_ 17 "_Come, now, don't give me any of your tomato sauce._" 39 _Billy never wanted for plenty to eat._ 64 _"He-he-ho-ho, oh! what a joke,"

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Billy Bounce

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Billy Bounce is here in full — 12 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/2 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

See https:// List of Chapters.

Line 2

"_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.

/waɪ ɪt ɪz ə lɑːrdʒ fraɪd eɡ sed ˈbɪli ɪkˈsaɪtədli/

Line 3

--Page 47....Frontispiece.

Line 4

PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

Line 5

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.

Bogie noun US /ˈbʊɡi/

an evil spirit

From this reading “PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."”

ceiling noun US /ˈsiːlɪŋ/

the overhead upper surface of a covered space

From this reading “14 _"Now," said Mr. Gas, "be careful not to sit on the ceiling."_ 17 "_Come, now, don't give me any of your tomato sauce._" 39 _Billy never wanted for plenty to eat._ 64 _"He-he-ho-ho, oh! what a joke,"”

Chapters noun US /ˈtʃæptərz/

plural of “chapter” — a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled

From this reading “See https:// List of Chapters.”

egg noun US /eɡ/

animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds

From this reading “"_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.”

excitedly adverb US /ɪkˈsaɪtədli/

with excitement; in an excited manner

fried adjective US /fraɪd/

cooked by frying in fat

From this reading “"_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.”

sauce noun US /sɔːs/

flavorful relish or dressing or topping served as an accompaniment to food

tomato noun US /təˈmeɪtoʊ/

mildly acid red or yellow pulpy fruit eaten as a vegetable

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.

against the rules preposition + article + noun counted as “against … rule”

In this reading “PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."”

List of verb + particle

In this reading “See https:// List of Chapters.”

sit on verb + particle

In this reading “14 _"Now," said Mr. Gas, "be careful not to sit on the ceiling."_ 17 "_Come, now, don't give me any of your tomato sauce._" 39 _Billy never wanted for plenty to eat._ 64 _"He-he-ho-ho, oh! what a joke,"”

All words in this reading · 61

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 14 _"Now," said Mr. Gas, "be careful not to sit on the ceiling."_ 17 "_Come, now, don't give me any of your tomato sauce._" 39 _Billy never wanted for plenty to eat._ 64 _"He-he-ho-ho, oh! what a joke,"

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

From this reading --Page 47....Frontispiece.

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

BillynounUS /ˈbɪli/

a short stout club used primarily by policemen

From this reading "_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.

BogienounUS /ˈbʊɡi/

an evil spirit

From this reading PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

can't

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

From this reading PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

carefuladjectiveUS /ˈkerfəl/

exercising caution or showing care or attention

ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/

the overhead upper surface of a covered space

ChaptersnounUS /ˈtʃæptərz/

plural of “chapter” — a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled

From this reading See https:// List of Chapters.

ComeverbUS /kʌm/

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

don't

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

eatverbUS /iːt/

take in solid food

eggnounUS /eɡ/

animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds

From this reading "_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.

excitedlyadverbUS /ɪkˈsaɪtədli/

with excitement; in an excited manner

From this reading "_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

friedadjectiveUS /fraɪd/

cooked by frying in fat

From this reading "_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.

Frontispiecenoun

an ornamental facade

From this reading --Page 47....Frontispiece.

GasnounUS /ɡæs/

the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

He-he-ho-ho

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

https

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

From this reading See https:// List of Chapters.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.

it's

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

From this reading PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

jokenounUS /dʒoʊk/

a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.

ListverbUS /lɪst/

give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of

From this reading See https:// List of Chapters.

livesnounUS /lɪvz/

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

MannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading See https:// List of Chapters.

ohnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

PagenounUS /peɪdʒ/

one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains

From this reading --Page 47....Frontispiece.

plentynounUS /ˈplenti/

a full supply

rulesnounUS /ruːlz/

plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

From this reading PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.

saucenounUS /sɔːs/

flavorful relish or dressing or topping served as an accompaniment to food

SeeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading See https:// List of Chapters.

sitverbUS /sɪt/

be seated

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

tomatonounUS /təˈmeɪtoʊ/

mildly acid red or yellow pulpy fruit eaten as a vegetable

wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/

desired or wished for or sought

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading "_Why it_ is, _a large fried egg," said Billy, excitedly_.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading PAGE "I _can't tell you where Bogie Man lives, it's against the rules_."

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

Chapter 1 of Billy Bounce by W. W. (William Wallace) Denslow holds 12 sentences, grouped into 3 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 Billy Bounce contain?

Chapter 1 holds 12 sentences of Billy Bounce, unabridged, divided into 3 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Billy Bounce by W. W. (William Wallace) Denslow exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 12 sentences, grouped into 3 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 Billy Bounce?

Work through the 3 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 3 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 Billy Bounce

Common questions about reading Billy Bounce by W. W. (William Wallace) Denslow on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Billy Bounce?

Yes. All 3165 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #48537 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Billy Bounce is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #48537, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Billy Bounce take to read?

About 263 minutes of reading across 633 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Billy Bounce section by section

How to work through Billy Bounce section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

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Vocabulary met early in Billy Bounce

Words and structures a reader meets early in Billy Bounce, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Https: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Billy Bounce; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chapters: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Billy Bounce; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Large: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Billy Bounce; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fried: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Billy Bounce; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter I

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