Chapter 18 of Current superstitions is here in full — 180 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVIII
Chapter 18 of Current superstitions is here in full — 180 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
DEATH OMENS. 1158. To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death. _Pennsylvania; somewhat general in the United States._ 1159. To open an umbrella in the house is a sign of ill luck.
Chapter 18 of Current superstitions is here in full — 180 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading “To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.”
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading “To open an umbrella in the house is a sign of ill luck.”
plural of “omen” — a sign of something about to happen
From this reading “DEATH OMENS.”
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading “To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.”
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading “_Pennsylvania; somewhat general in the United States._ 1159.”
a lightweight handheld collapsible canopy
From this reading “To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.”
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading “_Pennsylvania; somewhat general in the United States._ 1159.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 1158.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Pennsylvania; somewhat general in the United States._ 1159.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading DEATH OMENS.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading _Pennsylvania; somewhat general in the United States._ 1159.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading To open an umbrella in the house is a sign of ill luck.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading To open an umbrella in the house is a sign of ill luck.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.
plural of “omen” — a sign of something about to happen
From this reading DEATH OMENS.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading To open an umbrella in the house is a sign of ill luck.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading _Pennsylvania; somewhat general in the United States._ 1159.
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading _Pennsylvania; somewhat general in the United States._ 1159.
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading _Pennsylvania; somewhat general in the United States._ 1159.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Pennsylvania; somewhat general in the United States._ 1159.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.
a lightweight handheld collapsible canopy
From this reading To raise an umbrella in a house is a sign of an approaching death.
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading _Pennsylvania; somewhat general in the United States._ 1159.
Chapter 18 of Current superstitions by Fanny D. (Fanny Dickerson) [Editor] Bergen holds 180 sentences, grouped into 36 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.
Chapter 18 holds 180 sentences of Current superstitions, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 18 of Current superstitions by Fanny D. (Fanny Dickerson) [Editor] Bergen exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 180 sentences, grouped into 36 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.
Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 36 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 18 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.
Common questions about reading Current superstitions by Fanny D. (Fanny Dickerson) [Editor] Bergen on this page, its source edition and its audio.
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Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Current superstitions section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 0 chapters of Current superstitions to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Current superstitions, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
