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Frank Merriwell's Backers
Frank Merriwell's Backers

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Frank Merriwell's Backers is here in full — 34 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Frank Merriwell's Backers
Context Illustration Reading 1/6 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.
There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.
One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.
Next in importance, comes interest, with which every one of these books fairly teems.
No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been published.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Frank Merriwell's Backers

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Frank Merriwell's Backers is here in full — 34 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/6 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.
Line 2
There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.
Line 3
One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.
/wʌn ʌv ðə best ˈfiːtʃərz əˈbaʊt ðiːz bʊks ɪz ðæt ðeɪ ɑːr ɔːl ʌv ðə ˈhaɪəst ˈmɔːrəl toʊn kənˈteɪnɪŋ ˈnʌθɪŋ ðæt kʊd biː əbˈdʒekʃənəbəl tuː ðə moʊst pərˈtɪkjələr ˈperənts/
Line 4
Next in importance, comes interest, with which every one of these books fairly teems.
/nekst ɪn ˌɪmˈpɔːrtəns kʌmz ˈɪntrəst wɪð wɪtʃ ˈevəri wʌn ʌv ðiːz bʊks ˈferli tiːmz/
Line 5
No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been published.
/noʊ mɔːr ˈvɪɡərəs ɔːr ˈbetər ˈlɪtərətʃər fɔːr bɔɪz hæz ˈevər bɪn ˈpʌblɪʃt/

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.

Cents noun US /sents/

plural of “cent” — a fractional monetary unit of several countries

containing verb US /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/

-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component

From this reading “One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.”

excellence noun US /ˈeksələns/

the quality of excelling; possessing good qualities in high degree

From this reading “_Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.”

Issued verb US /ˈɪʃuːd/

past form of “issue” — prepare and issue for public distribution or sale

objectionable adjective US /əbˈdʒekʃənəbəl/

causing disapproval or protest

From this reading “One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.”

readily adverb US /ˈredəli/

without much difficulty

From this reading “There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.”

teems verb US /tiːmz/

third-person singular of “teem” — be teeming, be abuzz

From this reading “Next in importance, comes interest, with which every one of these books fairly teems.”

vigorous adjective US /ˈvɪɡərəs/

characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity

From this reading “No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been published.”

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

moral tone adjective + noun

In this reading “One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.”

All words in this reading · 70

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.

1.00

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

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

15

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

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been published.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been published.

bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

boysnounUS /bɔɪz/

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

CentsnounUS /sents/

plural of “cent” — a fractional monetary unit of several countries

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

cloth-bound

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

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

comesnounUS /kʌmz/

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading Next in importance, comes interest, with which every one of these books fairly teems.

containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/

-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

editionnounUS /əˈdɪʃən/

the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been published.

EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

excellencenounUS /ˈeksələns/

the quality of excelling; possessing good qualities in high degree

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

fairlyadverbUS /ˈferli/

to certain extent or degree

From this reading Next in importance, comes interest, with which every one of these books fairly teems.

featuresnounUS /ˈfiːtʃərz/

plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been published.

highestadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪəst/

superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

importancenounUS /ˌɪmˈpɔːrtəns/

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading Next in importance, comes interest, with which every one of these books fairly teems.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading Next in importance, comes interest, with which every one of these books fairly teems.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

IssuedverbUS /ˈɪʃuːd/

past form of “issue” — prepare and issue for public distribution or sale

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

linenounUS /laɪn/

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

literaturenounUS /ˈlɪtərətʃər/

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been published.

moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/

concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been published.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

NextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading Next in importance, comes interest, with which every one of these books fairly teems.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been published.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

objectionableadjectiveUS /əbˈdʒekʃənəbəl/

causing disapproval or protest

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been published.

parentsnounUS /ˈperənts/

plural of “parent” — 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 One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

peculiaradjectiveUS /pəˈkjuːljər/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

PricenounUS /praɪs/

the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

publishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

readilyadverbUS /ˈredəli/

without much difficulty

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

sellverbUS /sel/

exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

teemsverbUS /tiːmz/

third-person singular of “teem” — be teeming, be abuzz

From this reading Next in importance, comes interest, with which every one of these books fairly teems.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

titlenounUS /ˈtaɪtəl/

a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

tonenounUS /toʊn/

the quality of a person's voice

From this reading One of the best features about these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular parents.

vigorousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/

characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity

From this reading No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been published.

WeeknounUS /wiːk/

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Next in importance, comes interest, with which every one of these books fairly teems.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Next in importance, comes interest, with which every one of these books fairly teems.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in cloth-bound edition at $1.00.

Chapter 1 of Frank Merriwell's Backers by Burt L. Standish holds 34 sentences, grouped into 7 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 Frank Merriwell's Backers contain?

Chapter 1 holds 34 sentences of Frank Merriwell's Backers, unabridged, divided into 7 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Frank Merriwell's Backers by Burt L. Standish exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 34 sentences, grouped into 7 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 Frank Merriwell's Backers?

Work through the 7 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 7 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 Frank Merriwell's Backers

Common questions about reading Frank Merriwell's Backers by Burt L. Standish on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Frank Merriwell's Backers?

Yes. All 5574 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #39433 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Frank Merriwell's Backers is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #39433, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Frank Merriwell's Backers take to read?

About 464 minutes of reading across 1115 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Frank Merriwell's Backers section by section

How to work through Frank Merriwell's Backers section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 34 chapters of Frank Merriwell's Backers 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 Frank Merriwell's Backers

Words and structures a reader meets early in Frank Merriwell's Backers, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Issued
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Frank Merriwell's Backers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Every
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Frank Merriwell's Backers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Price
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Frank Merriwell's Backers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cents
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Frank Merriwell's Backers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.