Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
David Copperfield
David Copperfield

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of David Copperfield is here in full — 224 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for David Copperfield
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.
The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.
Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.
I found that the street was not as desirable a one as I could have wished it to be, for the sake of Traddles.
The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.
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.

David Copperfield

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of David Copperfield is here in full — 224 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.
Line 2
The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.
Line 3
Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.
Line 4
I found that the street was not as desirable a one as I could have wished it to be, for the sake of Traddles.
Line 5
The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

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.

Same adjective US /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading “Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.”

All words in this reading · 119

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.

a

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

academic

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

account

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

advice

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

after

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

afternoon

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

and

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

any

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

apartments

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

appeared

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

as

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

at

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

be

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

From this reading I found that the street was not as desirable a one as I could have wished it to be, for the sake of Traddles.

because

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

been

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

better

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

bought

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

but

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

by

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

cabbage-leaves

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

Camden

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

came

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

certain

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

clerk

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

clerks

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

College

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

consequence

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

could

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

From this reading I found that the street was not as desirable a one as I could have wished it to be, for the sake of Traddles.

Crupp's

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

day

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

desirable

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

From this reading I found that the street was not as desirable a one as I could have wished it to be, for the sake of Traddles.

direction

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

donkeys

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

experiments

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

for

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

found

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

From this reading I found that the street was not as desirable a one as I could have wished it to be, for the sake of Traddles.

from

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

gentlemen

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

go

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

grove

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

had

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

have

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

Having

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

he

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

head

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

I

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

in

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

informed

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

inhabitants

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

into

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

It

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

little

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

live

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

lived

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

look

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

made

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

may

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

me

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

mentioned

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

more

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

Mrs

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

my

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

near

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

next

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

no

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

not

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

From this reading I found that the street was not as desirable a one as I could have wished it to be, for the sake of Traddles.

obtained

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

of

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

old

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

on

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

one

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

only

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

our

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

out

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

perhaps

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

principally

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

private

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

propensity

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

quadrupeds

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

question

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

rank

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

reason

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

road

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

sake

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

From this reading I found that the street was not as desirable a one as I could have wished it to be, for the sake of Traddles.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

schoolfellow

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

set

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

similarity

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

skittles

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

sloppy

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

sound

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

street

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

students

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

tenanted

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

than

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

that

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

the

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

their

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

there

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

they

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

this

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

those

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

throw

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

time

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

to

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

too

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

Town

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

Traddles

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

trifles

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

untidy

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

Veterinary

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

visit

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

From this reading Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit my old schoolfellow.

want

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

was

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

were

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

From this reading The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

which

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

who

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

From this reading The time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private apartments.

wished

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

From this reading I found that the street was not as desirable a one as I could have wished it to be, for the sake of Traddles.

word

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

From this reading It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp’s advice, and, perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles.

Chapter 17 of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens holds 224 sentences, grouped into 45 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 17 of David Copperfield contain?

Chapter 17 holds 224 sentences of David Copperfield, unabridged, divided into 45 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 224 sentences, grouped into 45 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 17 of David Copperfield?

Work through the 45 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 45 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 David Copperfield

Common questions about reading David Copperfield by Charles Dickens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of David Copperfield?

Yes. All 18139 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #766 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of David Copperfield is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #766, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does David Copperfield take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 3628 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read David Copperfield section by section

How to work through David Copperfield section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of David Copperfield 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 David Copperfield

Words and structures a reader meets early in David Copperfield, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Whether
A word that appears in the opening chapter of David Copperfield; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shall
A word that appears in the opening chapter of David Copperfield; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Station
A word that appears in the opening chapter of David Copperfield; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Anybody
A word that appears in the opening chapter of David Copperfield; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.