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Cakes & Ale
Cakes & Ale

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Cakes & Ale is here in full — 79 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/15 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST
"The day breaks slow, but e'en must man break-fast."
Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.
This is a very serious subject.
The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.
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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.

Cakes & Ale

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Cakes & Ale is here in full — 79 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/15 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST
Line 2
"The day breaks slow, but e'en must man break-fast."
Line 3
Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.
Line 4
This is a very serious subject.
/ðɪs ɪz ə ˈveri ˈsɪriəs səbˈdʒekt/
Line 5
The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.
/ðə fɜːrst miːl ʌv ðə deɪ hæz ˈeksərsaɪzd mɔːr ˈɪnfluːəns ˈoʊvər ˈhɪstəri ðæn ˈmeni ˈpiːpəl meɪ biː əˈwer ʌv/

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.

abstinence noun US /ˈæbstənəns/

the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol)

From this reading “RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST”

Anchovy noun US /ænˈtʃoʊvi/

tiny fishes usually canned or salted; used for hors d'oeuvres or as seasoning in sauces

From this reading “RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST”

Britons noun US /ˈbrɪtənz/

plural of “briton” — a native or inhabitant of Great Britain

From this reading “Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.”

druggist noun US /ˈdrʌɡɪst/

a health professional trained in the art of preparing and dispensing drugs

From this reading “RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST”

fanatics noun US /fəˈnætɪks/

plural of “fanatic” — a person motivated by irrational enthusiasm (as for a cause)

From this reading “RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST”

informal adjective US /ˌɪnˈfɔːrməl/

not formal

From this reading “Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.”

Normandy noun US /ˈnɔːrməndi/

a former province of northwestern France on the English channel; divided into Haute-Normandie and Basse-Normandie

From this reading “RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST”

statistics noun US /stəˈtɪstɪks/

a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters

From this reading “Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.”

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.

many people adjective + noun

In this reading “The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.”

all sorts adjective + noun counted as “all sort”

In this reading “RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST”

serious subject adjective + noun

In this reading “This is a very serious subject.”

All words in this reading · 104

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.

260

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

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

274

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

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

abstinencenounUS /ˈæbstənəns/

the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol)

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

AndeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

AnchovynounUS /ænˈtʃoʊvi/

tiny fishes usually canned or salted; used for hors d'oeuvres or as seasoning in sauces

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

awareadjectiveUS /əˈwer/

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

badadjectiveUS /bæd/

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

Bess

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

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

BewareverbUS /bɪˈwer/

be on one's guard; be cautious or wary about; be alert to

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

bottlenounUS /ˈbɑːtəl/

a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

BrandynounUS /ˈbrændi/

distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

break-fast

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

From this reading "The day breaks slow, but e'en must man break-fast."

BREAKFASTverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/

eat an early morning meal

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

breaksnounUS /breɪks/

plural of “break” — some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity

From this reading "The day breaks slow, but e'en must man break-fast."

BritonsnounUS /ˈbrɪtənz/

plural of “briton” — a native or inhabitant of Great Britain

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

buyverbUS /baɪ/

obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

Carpe

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

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

cashnounUS /kæʃ/

money in the form of bills or coins

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

cheapadjectiveUS /tʃiːp/

relatively low in price or charging low prices

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

coffeenounUS /ˈkɑːfi/

a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

conditionsnounUS /kənˈdɪʃənz/

the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading "The day breaks slow, but e'en must man break-fast."

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

diem

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

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

druggistnounUS /ˈdrʌɡɪst/

a health professional trained in the art of preparing and dispensing drugs

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

e'enadverb

even

From this reading "The day breaks slow, but e'en must man break-fast."

eccentricadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsentrɪk/

conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

evolutionnounUS /ˌevəˈluːʃən/

a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage)

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

exercisedverbUS /ˈeksərsaɪzd/

past form of “exercise” — put to use

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

fanaticsnounUS /fəˈnætɪks/

plural of “fanatic” — a person motivated by irrational enthusiasm (as for a cause)

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

FormaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/

being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

FreeverbUS /friː/

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

Garraway's

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

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

gentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/

a man of refinement

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

GoodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

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 RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

historynounUS /ˈhɪstəri/

the aggregate of past events

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

influencenounUS /ˈɪnfluːəns/

a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

informaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrməl/

not formal

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

invalidnounUS /ˈɪnvələd/

someone who is incapacitated by a chronic illness or injury

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading This is a very serious subject.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

loafnounUS /loʊf/

a shaped mass of baked bread that is usually sliced before eating

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading "The day breaks slow, but e'en must man break-fast."

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

mattersnounUS /ˈmætərz/

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

mealnounUS /miːl/

the food served and eaten at one time

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

ModerationnounUS /ˌmɑːdərˈeɪʃən/

quality of being moderate and avoiding extremes

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

morrownounUS /ˈmɑːroʊ/

the next day

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "The day breaks slow, but e'en must man break-fast."

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

NormandynounUS /ˈnɔːrməndi/

a former province of northwestern France on the English channel; divided into Haute-Normandie and Basse-Normandie

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

Pick-me-ups

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

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

QueennounUS /kwiːn/

the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

RESTORATIVES

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

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

seanounUS /siː/

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

seriousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪriəs/

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading This is a very serious subject.

slowadjectiveUS /sloʊ/

not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

sortsnounUS /sɔːrts/

plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

staffnounUS /stæf/

personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

statisticsnounUS /stəˈtɪstɪks/

a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

StraightadjectiveUS /streɪt/

successive (without a break)

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

subjectnounUS /səbˈdʒekt/

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading This is a very serious subject.

talksnounUS /tɔːks/

a discussion intended to produce an agreement

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

teanounUS /tiː/

a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The first meal of the day has exercised more influence over history than many people may be aware of.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This is a very serious subject.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

toastverbUS /toʊst/

make brown and crisp by heating

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

TotalverbUS /ˈtoʊtəl/

add up in number or quantity

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

TradenounUS /treɪd/

the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services

From this reading Formal or informal?--An eccentric old gentleman--The ancient Britons--Breakfast in the days of Good Queen Bess--A few tea statistics--"Garraway's"--Something about coffee--Brandy for breakfast--The evolution of the staff of life--Free Trade--The cheap loaf, and no cash to buy it.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading This is a very serious subject.

William

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

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

windnounUS /waɪnd/

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

WiselyadverbUS /ˈwaɪzli/

in a wise manner

From this reading RESTORATIVES William of Normandy--A "head" wind at sea--Beware the druggist--Pick-me-ups of all sorts and conditions--Anchovy toast for the invalid--A small bottle--Straight talks to fanatics--Total abstinence as bad as the other thing--Moderation in all matters--Wisely and slow--_Carpe diem_--But have a thought for the morrow 260-274 BREAKFAST

Chapter 2 of Cakes & Ale by Edward Spencer holds 79 sentences, grouped into 16 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 2 of Cakes & Ale contain?

Chapter 2 holds 79 sentences of Cakes & Ale, unabridged, divided into 16 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Cakes & Ale by Edward Spencer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 79 sentences, grouped into 16 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 2 of Cakes & Ale?

Work through the 16 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 16 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Cakes & Ale

Common questions about reading Cakes & Ale by Edward Spencer on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Cakes & Ale?

Yes. All 2819 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #43278 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Cakes & Ale is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #43278, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Cakes & Ale take to read?

About 234 minutes of reading across 564 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Cakes & Ale section by section

How to work through Cakes & Ale section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 21 chapters of Cakes & Ale 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 Cakes & Ale

Words and structures a reader meets early in Cakes & Ale, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cakes & Ale; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cakes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cakes & Ale; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Crown
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cakes & Ale; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cloth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cakes & Ale; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.