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Browning's Shorter Poems
Browning's Shorter Poems

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Browning's Shorter Poems is here in full — 414 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Robert Browning • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Browning's Shorter Poems
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
FRANKLIN T. BAKER, A.M.
New York LONDON; MACMILLAN & CO., LTD.
Set up and electrotyped October, 1899.
Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.
Norwood Press J.S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.
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.

Browning's Shorter Poems

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Browning's Shorter Poems is here in full — 414 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
FRANKLIN T. BAKER, A.M.
Line 2
New York LONDON; MACMILLAN & CO., LTD.
Line 3
Set up and electrotyped October, 1899.
Line 4
Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.
Line 5
Norwood Press J.S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

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.

baker noun US /ˈbeɪkər/

someone who bakes commercially

From this reading “FRANKLIN T. BAKER, A.M.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Cushing noun US /ˈkʊʃɪŋ/

United States neurologist noted for his study of the brain and pituitary gland and who identified Cushing's syndrome (1869-1939)

From this reading “Norwood Press J.S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
February noun US /ˈfebjəweri/

the month following January and preceding March

From this reading “Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.”

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 “FRANKLIN T. BAKER, A.M.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
January noun US /ˈdʒænjuːeri/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading “Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
October noun US /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/

the month following September and preceding November

From this reading “Set up and electrotyped October, 1899.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Reprinted verb US /riˈprɪntɪd/

past form of “reprint” — print anew

From this reading “Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
September noun US /sepˈtembər/

the month following August and preceding October

From this reading “Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 51

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.

1899

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

From this reading Set up and electrotyped October, 1899.

Pending verification
1901

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1902

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1903

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1904

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1905

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1906

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1907

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1908

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1909

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1910

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1911

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1912

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1913

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1915

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1916

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
1917

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

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Pending verification
AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading FRANKLIN T. BAKER, A.M.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Set up and electrotyped October, 1899.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AprilnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BAKERnounUS /ˈbeɪkər/

someone who bakes commercially

From this reading FRANKLIN T. BAKER, A.M.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Berwick

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

From this reading Norwood Press J.S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

Pending verification
COnounUS /koʊ/

an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon

From this reading New York LONDON; MACMILLAN & CO., LTD.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CushingnounUS /ˈkʊʃɪŋ/

United States neurologist noted for his study of the brain and pituitary gland and who identified Cushing's syndrome (1869-1939)

From this reading Norwood Press J.S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
electrotyped

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

From this reading Set up and electrotyped October, 1899.

Pending verification
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/

the month following January and preceding March

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

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 FRANKLIN T. BAKER, A.M.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
JnounUS /dʒeɪ/

a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one second

From this reading Norwood Press J.S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
JulynounUS /ˌdʒuːˈlaɪ/

the month following June and preceding August

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
JunenounUS /dʒuːn/

the month following May and preceding July

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LONDONnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading New York LONDON; MACMILLAN & CO., LTD.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LTD

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

From this reading New York LONDON; MACMILLAN & CO., LTD.

Pending verification
MnounUS /em/

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading FRANKLIN T. BAKER, A.M.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MACMILLAN

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

From this reading New York LONDON; MACMILLAN & CO., LTD.

Pending verification
MarchverbUS /mɑːrtʃ/

march in a procession

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MassnounUS /mæs/

the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field

From this reading Norwood Press J.S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
NewadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading New York LONDON; MACMILLAN & CO., LTD.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Norwood

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

From this reading Norwood Press J.S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

Pending verification
OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/

the month following September and preceding November

From this reading Set up and electrotyped October, 1899.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PressverbUS /pres/

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading Norwood Press J.S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ReprintedverbUS /riˈprɪntɪd/

past form of “reprint” — print anew

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SnounUS /es/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Norwood Press J.S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/

the month following August and preceding October

From this reading Reprinted January, 1901; April, 1902; May, 1903; May, 1904; January, 1905; January, June, 1906; January, July, 1907; February, 1908; September, 1909; February, 1910; March, 1911; July, 1912; July, 1913; January, July, 1915; July, 1916; January, September, 1917.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SetverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Set up and electrotyped October, 1899.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SmithnounUS /smɪθ/

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading Norwood Press J.S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TnounUS /tiː/

a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading FRANKLIN T. BAKER, A.M.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
UnounUS /juː/

a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading Norwood Press J.S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Set up and electrotyped October, 1899.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
YorknounUS /jɔːrk/

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading New York LONDON; MACMILLAN & CO., LTD.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 1 of Browning's Shorter Poems by Robert Browning holds 414 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Browning's Shorter Poems contain?

Chapter 1 holds 414 sentences of Browning's Shorter Poems, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Browning's Shorter Poems by Robert Browning exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 414 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Browning's Shorter Poems?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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.

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Vocabulary met early in Browning's Shorter Poems

Words and structures a reader meets early in Browning's Shorter Poems, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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