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Cringle and cross-tree
Cringle and cross-tree

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Cringle and cross-tree is here in full — 120 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Oliver Optic • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Cringle and cross-tree
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._ THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.
AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.
WITH FOURTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS.
NEW YORK: LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
0:00 / 0:00
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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.

Cringle and cross-tree

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Cringle and cross-tree is here in full — 120 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._ THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.
Line 2
AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.
Line 3
WITH FOURTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS.
/wɪð ˈfɔːrˈtiːn ˌɪləˈstreɪʃənz/
Line 4
NEW YORK: LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.
Line 5
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

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.

adams noun US /ˈædəmz/

American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)

From this reading “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Congress noun US /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/

the legislature of the United States government

From this reading “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
illustrations noun US /ˌɪləˈstreɪʃənz/

plural of “illustration” — artwork that helps make something clear or attractive

From this reading “WITH FOURTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Librarian noun US /laɪˈbreriːən/

a professional person trained in library science and engaged in library services

From this reading “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
navy noun US /ˈneɪvi/

an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare

From this reading “AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onward adverb US /ˈɔːnwərd/

forward in time or order or degree

From this reading “_THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._ THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shepard noun US /ˈʃepərd/

United States author of surrealistic allegorical plays (born in 1943)

From this reading “NEW YORK: LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
starry adjective US /ˈstɑːriː/

abounding with or resembling stars

From this reading “AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

Act of verb + particle

In this reading “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.”

28,018 times in 426,212 chapters

All words in this reading · 47

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.

1871

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

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

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 _THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._ THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ABROADadverbUS /əˈbrɔːd/

to or in a foreign country

From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ActverbUS /ækt/

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ADAMSnounUS /ˈædəmz/

American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AMERICAnounUS /əˈmerəkə/

North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776

From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._ THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ARMYnounUS /ˈɑːrmi/

a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BOAT-CLUB

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

Pending verification
BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CongressnounUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/

the legislature of the United States government

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DILLINGHAM

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

From this reading NEW YORK: LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.

Pending verification
EnteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ETC

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

Pending verification
FLAGnounUS /flæɡ/

emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design

From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FOURTEENnounUS /ˈfɔːrˈtiːn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one

From this reading WITH FOURTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ILLUSTRATIONSnounUS /ˌɪləˈstreɪʃənz/

plural of “illustration” — artwork that helps make something clear or attractive

From this reading WITH FOURTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
LAKE-SHORE

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

Pending verification
LEEnounUS /liː/

United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)

From this reading NEW YORK: LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LibrariannounUS /laɪˈbreriːən/

a professional person trained in library science and engaged in library services

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NAVYnounUS /ˈneɪvi/

an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare

From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
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: LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._ THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OfficenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ONWARDadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/

forward in time or order or degree

From this reading _THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._ THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SAILORnounUS /ˈseɪlər/

any member of a ship's crew

From this reading _THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._ THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SEAnounUS /siː/

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

From this reading _THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._ THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SERIESnounUS /ˈsɪriz/

similar things placed in order or happening one after another

From this reading _THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._ THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SHEPARDnounUS /ˈʃepərd/

United States author of surrealistic allegorical plays (born in 1943)

From this reading NEW YORK: LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STARRYadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːriː/

abounding with or resembling stars

From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STORIESnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SWASHES

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

From this reading _THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._ THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.

Pending verification
TnounUS /tiː/

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

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._ THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
UPWARDadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/

directed up

From this reading _THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._ THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WashingtonnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋtən/

the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WILLIAM

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

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

Pending verification
WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading WITH FOURTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WOODVILLE

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

Pending verification
yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

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: LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
YOUNGadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE SERIES," ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 1 of Cringle and cross-tree by Oliver Optic holds 120 sentences, grouped into 24 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 Cringle and cross-tree contain?

Chapter 1 holds 120 sentences of Cringle and cross-tree, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Cringle and cross-tree by Oliver Optic exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 120 sentences, grouped into 24 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 Cringle and cross-tree?

Work through the 24 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 24 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 Cringle and cross-tree

Common questions about reading Cringle and cross-tree by Oliver Optic on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Cringle and cross-tree?

Yes. All 3451 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #71482 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Cringle and cross-tree is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #71482, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Cringle and cross-tree take to read?

About 287 minutes of reading across 691 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Cringle and cross-tree section by section

How to work through Cringle and cross-tree section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of Cringle and cross-tree to begin.

  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Cringle and cross-tree

Words and structures a reader meets early in Cringle and cross-tree, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Upward
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cringle and cross-tree; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Onward
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cringle and cross-tree; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Series
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cringle and cross-tree; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Swashes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cringle and cross-tree; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.