Ethan Frome

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Ethan Frome is here in full — 441 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Edith Wharton • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

“Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

From where he stood he could not see the persons coming out of the hall till they had advanced a few steps beyond the wooden sides of the storm-door; but through its cracks he heard a clear voice answer: “Mercy no!

Not on such a night.”

She was there, then, close to him, only a thin board between.

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter I Reading 57/88

Ethan Frome Edith Wharton

The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed. “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump. From where he stood he could not see the persons coming out of the hall till they had advanced a few steps beyond the wooden sides of the storm-door; but through its cracks he heard a clear voice answer: “Mercy no! Not on such a night.” She was there, then, close to him, only a thin board between.

Ethan Frome

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Ethan Frome is here in full — 441 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 57/88 · 5 reading units · Lines 281–285

Line 1

The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

Line 2

“Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

Line 3

Line 4

Not on such a night.”

/nɑːt ɑːn sʌtʃ ə naɪt/

Line 5

She was there, then, close to him, only a thin board between.

/ʃiː wɑːz ðer ðen kloʊs tuː hɪm ˈoʊnli ə θɪn bɔːrd bɪˈtwiːn/

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.

afoot adverb US /əˈfʊt/

on foot; walking

From this reading “The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.”

climb verb US /klaɪm/

go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading “The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.”

cracks noun US /kræks/

plural of “crack” — a long narrow opening

From this reading “From where he stood he could not see the persons coming out of the hall till they had advanced a few steps beyond the wooden sides of the storm-door; but through its cracks he heard a clear voice answer: “Mercy no!”

jump verb US /dʒʌmp/

move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading ““Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.”

neighbours noun US /ˈneɪbərz/

plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading “The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.”

packed adjective US /pækt/

extremely crowed or filled to capacity

From this reading “The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.”

throng noun US /θrɔːŋ/

a large gathering of people

From this reading ““Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.”

villagers noun US /ˈvɪlɪdʒərz/

plural of “villager” — one who has lived in a village most of their life

From this reading “The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

advancedadjectiveUS /ədˈvænst/

farther along in physical or mental development

From this reading From where he stood he could not see the persons coming out of the hall till they had advanced a few steps beyond the wooden sides of the storm-door; but through its cracks he heard a clear voice answer: “Mercy no!

afootadverbUS /əˈfʊt/

on foot; walking

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

Ain't

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

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

answerverbUS /ˈænsər/

react verbally

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading She was there, then, close to him, only a thin board between.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

boardnounUS /bɔːrd/

a committee having supervisory powers

From this reading She was there, then, close to him, only a thin board between.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

clearverbUS /klɪr/

rid of obstructions

climbverbUS /klaɪm/

go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading She was there, then, close to him, only a thin board between.

comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

cracksnounUS /kræks/

plural of “crack” — a long narrow opening

Ethan's

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

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

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

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

hallnounUS /hɔːl/

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading She was there, then, close to him, only a thin board between.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

jumpverbUS /dʒʌmp/

move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

mainadjectiveUS /meɪn/

most important element

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

Mattie

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

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

MercynounUS /ˈmɜːrsi/

leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

neighboursnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/

plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Not on such a night.”

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Not on such a night.”

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading She was there, then, close to him, only a thin board between.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

packedadjectiveUS /pækt/

extremely crowed or filled to capacity

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

personsnounUS /ˈpɜːrsənz/

plural of “person” — a human being

ridingnounUS /ˈraɪdɪŋ/

the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was there, then, close to him, only a thin board between.

shedverbUS /ʃed/

get rid of

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

sidesnounUS /saɪdz/

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

sleighs

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

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

slopenounUS /sloʊp/

an elevated geological formation

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

stepsnounUS /steps/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

storm-door

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

streetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Not on such a night.”

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading She was there, then, close to him, only a thin board between.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading She was there, then, close to him, only a thin board between.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading She was there, then, close to him, only a thin board between.

throngnounUS /θrɔːŋ/

a large gathering of people

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

villagersnounUS /ˈvɪlɪdʒərz/

plural of “villager” — one who has lived in a village most of their life

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

voicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She was there, then, close to him, only a thin board between.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading The villagers, being afoot, were the first to climb the slope to the main street, while the country neighbours packed themselves more slowly into the sleighs under the shed.

woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/

possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

woodenadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdən/

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Ain’t you riding, Mattie?” a woman’s voice called back from the throng about the shed, and Ethan’s heart gave a jump.

Chapter 1 of Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton holds 441 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 1 of Ethan Frome contain?

Chapter 1 holds 441 sentences of Ethan Frome, unabridged, divided into 89 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 441 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.

How do I study chapter 1 of Ethan Frome?

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

Each of the 89 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 Ethan Frome

Common questions about reading Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Ethan Frome?

Yes. All 1758 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4517 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Ethan Frome is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4517, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Ethan Frome take to read?

About 146 minutes of reading across 352 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Ethan Frome section by section

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

Open a chapter

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Vocabulary met early in Ethan Frome

Words and structures a reader meets early in Ethan Frome, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Story: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ethan Frome; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Various: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ethan Frome; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
People: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ethan Frome; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Generally: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ethan Frome; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter I · Chapter 1

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