Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and

Chapter XXII · Chapter 22

Chapter 22 of Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and is here in full — 247 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By James Boswell • Curated US English Learning Edition

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Upon the much-expected Wednesday, I called on him about half an hour before dinner, as I often did when we were to dine out together, to see that he was ready in time, and to accompany him.

I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

JOHNSON.

'Sir, I did not think of going to Dilly's: it went out of my head.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XXII Reading 1/49

Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and James Boswell

Chapter XXII

Chapter 22

Chapter 22 of Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and is here in full — 247 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Upon the much-expected Wednesday, I called on him about half an hour before dinner, as I often did when we were to dine out together, to see that he was ready in time, and to accompany him. I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad. 'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?' JOHNSON. 'Sir, I did not think of going to Dilly's: it went out of my head.

Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and

Chapter XXII · Chapter 22

Chapter 22 of Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and is here in full — 247 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Upon the much-expected Wednesday, I called on him about half an hour before dinner, as I often did when we were to dine out together, to see that he was ready in time, and to accompany him.

Line 2

I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

/aɪ faʊnd hɪm bəˈfeɪɪŋ hɪz bʊks æz əˈpɑːn ə ˈfɔːrmər əˈkeɪʒən ˈkʌvərd wɪð dʌst ənd ˈmeɪkɪŋ noʊ ˌprepərˈeɪʃən fɔːr ˈɡoʊɪŋ əˈbrɔːd/

Line 3

'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

Line 4

JOHNSON.

/ˈdʒɑːnsən/

Line 5

'Sir, I did not think of going to Dilly's: it went out of my head.

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.

abroad adverb US /əˈbrɔːd/

to or in a foreign country

From this reading “I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.”

accompany verb US /əˈkʌmpəni/

be present or associated with an event or entity

From this reading “Upon the much-expected Wednesday, I called on him about half an hour before dinner, as I often did when we were to dine out together, to see that he was ready in time, and to accompany him.”

buffeting noun US /bəˈfeɪɪŋ/

repeated heavy blows

From this reading “I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.”

dine verb US /daɪn/

have supper; eat dinner

johnson noun US /ˈdʒɑːnsən/

English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)

From this reading “JOHNSON.”

preparation noun US /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/

the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose

From this reading “I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.”

recollect verb US /ˌrekəˈlekt/

recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading “'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'”

Wednesday noun US /ˈwenzdi/

the fourth day of the week; the third working day

All words in this reading · 69

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Upon the much-expected Wednesday, I called on him about half an hour before dinner, as I often did when we were to dine out together, to see that he was ready in time, and to accompany him.

abroadadverbUS /əˈbrɔːd/

to or in a foreign country

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

accompanyverbUS /əˈkʌmpəni/

be present or associated with an event or entity

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading 'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading 'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

buffetingnounUS /bəˈfeɪɪŋ/

repeated heavy blows

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

Dilly's

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

From this reading 'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

dineverbUS /daɪn/

have supper; eat dinner

dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

Don't

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

From this reading 'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

dustverbUS /dʌst/

remove the dust from

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

formeradjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmər/

referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

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 'Sir, I did not think of going to Dilly's: it went out of my head.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

How

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

From this reading 'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading 'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading 'Sir, I did not think of going to Dilly's: it went out of my head.

JOHNSONnounUS /ˈdʒɑːnsən/

English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)

From this reading JOHNSON.

makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading 'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

much-expected

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

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading 'Sir, I did not think of going to Dilly's: it went out of my head.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading 'Sir, I did not think of going to Dilly's: it went out of my head.

occasionnounUS /əˈkeɪʒən/

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading 'Sir, I did not think of going to Dilly's: it went out of my head.

oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

preparationnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/

the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

recollectverbUS /ˌrekəˈlekt/

recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading 'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading 'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

SirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading 'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading 'Sir, I did not think of going to Dilly's: it went out of my head.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading 'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

WednesdaynounUS /ˈwenzdi/

the fourth day of the week; the third working day

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading 'Sir, I did not think of going to Dilly's: it went out of my head.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading 'How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?'

Chapter 22 of Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and by James Boswell holds 247 sentences, grouped into 50 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 22 of Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and contain?

Chapter 22 holds 247 sentences of Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and, unabridged, divided into 50 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 22 of Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and by James Boswell exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 247 sentences, grouped into 50 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 22 of Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and?

Work through the 50 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 50 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.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 22 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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Project Gutenberg eBook #1564, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 600 minutes of reading across 2109 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Words and structures a reader meets early in Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

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Chapter XXII · Chapter 22

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