Chapter 1 of Fantasy: A Novel is here in full — 44 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Fantasy: A Novel is here in full — 44 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_. A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants. For the words with both variants present the one more used has been kept. Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected. The Table of Contents was added by the transcriber.
Chapter 1 of Fantasy: A Novel is here in full — 44 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/8 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
past form of “denote” — be a sign or indication of
From this reading “In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.”
past form of “hyphenate” — divide or connect with a hyphen
From this reading “A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants.”
plural of “italic” — a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right
From this reading “In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.”
text handwritten in the style of printed matter
From this reading “Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected.”
something that makes repeated and regular interruptions or divisions
From this reading “Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected.”
a person who translates written messages from one language to another
From this reading “The Table of Contents was added by the transcriber.”
plural of “underscore” — a line drawn underneath (especially under written matter)
plural of “variant” — an event that departs from expectations
From this reading “A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading The Table of Contents was added by the transcriber.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For the words with both variants present the one more used has been kept.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants.
the two together, not just one
From this reading A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading The Table of Contents was added by the transcriber.
having something undesirable neutralized
From this reading Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected.
past form of “denote” — be a sign or indication of
From this reading In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.
plural of “error” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the words with both variants present the one more used has been kept.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the words with both variants present the one more used has been kept.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants.
past form of “hyphenate” — divide or connect with a hyphen
From this reading A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.
plural of “italic” — a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right
From this reading In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading For the words with both variants present the one more used has been kept.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For the words with both variants present the one more used has been kept.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants.
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
From this reading Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For the words with both variants present the one more used has been kept.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading For the words with both variants present the one more used has been kept.
text handwritten in the style of printed matter
From this reading Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected.
something that makes repeated and regular interruptions or divisions
From this reading Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The Table of Contents was added by the transcriber.
the words of something written
From this reading In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants.
a person who translates written messages from one language to another
From this reading The Table of Contents was added by the transcriber.
plural of “underscore” — a line drawn underneath (especially under written matter)
From this reading In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading For the words with both variants present the one more used has been kept.
plural of “variant” — an event that departs from expectations
From this reading A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants.
an interpretation of a matter from a particular viewpoint
From this reading In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Table of Contents was added by the transcriber.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For the words with both variants present the one more used has been kept.
the words that are spoken
From this reading In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.
Chapter 1 of Fantasy: A Novel by Matilde Serao holds 44 sentences, grouped into 9 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 1 holds 44 sentences of Fantasy: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 9 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Fantasy: A Novel by Matilde Serao exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 44 sentences, grouped into 9 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 9 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 9 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 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.
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Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
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How to work through Fantasy: A Novel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
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Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Fantasy: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
