Definitions [First Series]

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Definitions [First Series] is here in full — 443 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Henry Seidel Canby • Curated US English Learning Edition

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Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

Your ancestors opened the door of departure for mine, somewhat brusquely it is true, but with the same result, if not the same reason, as with the boys they sent away to school--they made men of us.

So it is with literature.

American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

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Chapter IV Reading 1/88

Definitions [First Series] Henry Seidel Canby

Chapter IV

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Definitions [First Series] is here in full — 443 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain. Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one. Your ancestors opened the door of departure for mine, somewhat brusquely it is true, but with the same result, if not the same reason, as with the boys they sent away to school--they made men of us. So it is with literature. American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

Definitions [First Series]

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Definitions [First Series] is here in full — 443 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/88 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

/mʌtʃ hæz bɪn sed ʌv ðə ædˈvæntɪdʒ fɔːr ʌs ənd pərˈhæps fɔːr ðə wɜːrld wɪtʃ hæz kʌm frʌm ðə ˌsepərˈeɪʃən ʌv ðə əˈmerəkən ˈkɑːləniz frʌm ɡreɪt ˈbrɪtən/

Line 2

Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

/tuː ˈsɪstəmz ʌv ˈkloʊsli rɪˈleɪtɪd pəˈlɪtəkəl ˈθɪŋkɪŋ tuː ˈnæʃənəl ˈkærəktərz hæv dɪˈveləpt ənd bɪn səkˈsesfəl ˌɪnˈsted ʌv wʌn/

Line 3

Your ancestors opened the door of departure for mine, somewhat brusquely it is true, but with the same result, if not the same reason, as with the boys they sent away to school--they made men of us.

Line 4

So it is with literature.

/soʊ ɪt ɪz wɪð ˈlɪtərətʃər/

Line 5

American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

/əˈmerəkən ˈlɪtərətʃər wɪl ˈnevər æz sʌm ˈkrɪtɪks wʊd pərˈsweɪd ʌs biː ə tʃaɪld wɪˈθaʊt ə ˈperənt/

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.

ancestors noun US /ˈænsestərz/

plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

From this reading “Your ancestors opened the door of departure for mine, somewhat brusquely it is true, but with the same result, if not the same reason, as with the boys they sent away to school--they made men of us.”

Britain noun US /ˈbrɪtən/

a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; “Great Britain” is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom

From this reading “Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.”

brusquely adverb US /ˈbrʌskli/

in a blunt direct manner

colonies noun US /ˈkɑːləniz/

plural of “colony” — a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government

From this reading “Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.”

critics noun US /ˈkrɪtɪks/

plural of “critic” — a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art

From this reading “American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.”

parent noun US /ˈperənt/

a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading “American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.”

separation noun US /ˌsepərˈeɪʃən/

the state of lacking unity

From this reading “Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.”

systems noun US /ˈsɪstəmz/

plural of “system” — instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity

From this reading “Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.”

All words in this reading · 73

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

advantagenounUS /ædˈvæntɪdʒ/

the quality of having a superior or more favorable position

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/

plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

From this reading Your ancestors opened the door of departure for mine, somewhat brusquely it is true, but with the same result, if not the same reason, as with the boys they sent away to school--they made men of us.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

boysnounUS /bɔɪz/

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

BritainnounUS /ˈbrɪtən/

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

brusquelyadverbUS /ˈbrʌskli/

in a blunt direct manner

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

charactersnounUS /ˈkærəktərz/

plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

childnounUS /tʃaɪld/

a young person of either sex

From this reading American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

closelyadverbUS /ˈkloʊsli/

in a close relation or position in time or space

From this reading Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

coloniesnounUS /ˈkɑːləniz/

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

criticsnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪks/

plural of “critic” — a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art

From this reading American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

departurenounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/

the act of departing

developedadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpt/

being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful

From this reading Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

GreatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

insteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

literaturenounUS /ˈlɪtərətʃər/

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading So it is with literature.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

minepronounUS /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

MuchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

nationaladjectiveUS /ˈnæʃənəl/

of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country

From this reading Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/

used of mouth or eyes

parentnounUS /ˈperənt/

a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

persuadeverbUS /pərˈsweɪd/

win approval or support for

From this reading American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

politicaladjectiveUS /pəˈlɪtəkəl/

involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians

From this reading Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

relatedadjectiveUS /rɪˈleɪtɪd/

being connected either logically or causally or by shared characteristics

From this reading Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

resultnounUS /rɪˈzʌlt/

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

schoolnounUS /skuːl/

an educational institution

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

separationnounUS /ˌsepərˈeɪʃən/

the state of lacking unity

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So it is with literature.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

somewhatadverbUS /ˈsʌmˈwʌt/

to a small degree or extent

successfuladjectiveUS /səkˈsesfəl/

having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome

From this reading Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

systemsnounUS /ˈsɪstəmz/

plural of “system” — instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity

From this reading Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

thinkingnounUS /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

TwonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Two systems of closely related political thinking, two national characters, have developed and been successful instead of one.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Much has been said of the advantage for us, and perhaps for the world, which has come from the separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading American literature will never, as some critics would persuade us, be a child without a parent.

YourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

Chapter 4 of Definitions [First Series] by Henry Seidel Canby holds 443 sentences, grouped into 89 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 4 of Definitions [First Series] contain?

Chapter 4 holds 443 sentences of Definitions [First Series], unabridged, divided into 89 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Definitions [First Series] by Henry Seidel Canby exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 443 sentences, grouped into 89 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.

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Work through the 89 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

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Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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