Chapter 4 of Gleanings in Graveyards is here in full — 362 sentences across 73 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of Gleanings in Graveyards is here in full — 362 sentences across 73 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
OAKHAM. John Spong, Jobbing Carpenter. Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian. Shropshire. SHREWSBURY.
Chapter 4 of Gleanings in Graveyards is here in full — 362 sentences across 73 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/72 · 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.
a woodworker who makes or repairs wooden objects
From this reading “John Spong, Jobbing Carpenter.”
possessive form of “death” — the event of dying or departure from life
weapon consisting of a fighting ax; used by North American Indians
From this reading “Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading “Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.”
plural of “saw” — a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
From this reading “Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.”
plural of “stile” — an upright that is a member in a door or window frame
From this reading “Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.”
comparative of “sure” — having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.”
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 Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
of or relating to persons who study or deal in antiques or antiquities
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
a woodworker who makes or repairs wooden objects
From this reading John Spong, Jobbing Carpenter.
having something undesirable neutralized
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
possessive form of “death” — the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
a linguist who specializes in the study of grammar and syntax
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
weapon consisting of a fighting ax; used by North American Indians
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Spong, Jobbing Carpenter.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading John Spong, Jobbing Carpenter.
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
not any; not one
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OAKHAM.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
plural of “saw” — a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHREWSBURY.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shropshire.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Spong, Jobbing Carpenter.
plural of “stile” — an upright that is a member in a door or window frame
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
comparative of “sure” — having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
which person or people
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
but in spite of that
From this reading Who many a sturdy oak had lain along, Fell’d by Death’s surer hatchet, here lies SPONG, Posts oft he made, but ne’er a place could get, And liv’d by railing, though he was no wit: Old saws he had, although no antiquarian, And stiles corrected, yet was no grammarian.
Chapter 4 of Gleanings in Graveyards by Horatio Edward Norfolk holds 362 sentences, grouped into 73 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 4 holds 362 sentences of Gleanings in Graveyards, unabridged, divided into 73 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of Gleanings in Graveyards by Horatio Edward Norfolk exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 362 sentences, grouped into 73 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 73 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 73 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 4 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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Yes. All 1976 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34273 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #34273, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 164 minutes of reading across 396 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Gleanings in Graveyards section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 6 chapters of Gleanings in Graveyards to begin.
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 Gleanings in Graveyards, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
