Chapter 12 of Happy-go-lucky is here in full — 259 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XII
Chapter 12 of Happy-go-lucky is here in full — 259 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
MICE AND MEN "Sylvia, is your father in from his walk?" Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa. "Yes, mother mine," she replied. (Sylvia was rather addicted to little preciosities of this kind.) "Is he awake?"
Chapter 12 of Happy-go-lucky is here in full — 259 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/51 · 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.
compulsively or physiologically dependent on something habit-forming
From this reading “(Sylvia was rather addicted to little preciosities of this kind.)”
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading “Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.”
unpleasantly
From this reading “Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.”
an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes
From this reading “Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.”
plural of “mouse” — any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading “MICE AND MEN "Sylvia, is your father in from his walk?"”
possessive form 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
Based on or in accordance with reason or logic rather than turbulent emotions.
From this reading “Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.”
past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way
From this reading “Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.”
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.
In this reading “Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.”
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 Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
compulsively or physiologically dependent on something habit-forming
From this reading (Sylvia was rather addicted to little preciosities of this kind.)
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MICE AND MEN "Sylvia, is your father in from his walk?"
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading "Is he awake?"
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
unpleasantly
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading MICE AND MEN "Sylvia, is your father in from his walk?"
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading MICE AND MEN "Sylvia, is your father in from his walk?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Is he awake?"
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading MICE AND MEN "Sylvia, is your father in from his walk?"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MICE AND MEN "Sylvia, is your father in from his walk?"
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MICE AND MEN "Sylvia, is your father in from his walk?"
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading (Sylvia was rather addicted to little preciosities of this kind.)
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading (Sylvia was rather addicted to little preciosities of this kind.)
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
the force of workers available
From this reading MICE AND MEN "Sylvia, is your father in from his walk?"
plural of “mouse” — any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading MICE AND MEN "Sylvia, is your father in from his walk?"
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Yes, mother mine," she replied.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "Yes, mother mine," she replied.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading (Sylvia was rather addicted to little preciosities of this kind.)
possessive form 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 Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (Sylvia was rather addicted to little preciosities of this kind.)
on the contrary
From this reading (Sylvia was rather addicted to little preciosities of this kind.)
Based on or in accordance with reason or logic rather than turbulent emotions.
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
lying down; in a position of comfort or rest
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Yes, mother mine," she replied.
any loose flowing garment
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
of the grey-green color of sage leaves
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Yes, mother mine," she replied.
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MICE AND MEN "Sylvia, is your father in from his walk?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading (Sylvia was rather addicted to little preciosities of this kind.)
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading (Sylvia was rather addicted to little preciosities of this kind.)
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Miss Sylvia Mainwaring, attired in a sage-green robe and distressingly rational boots, turned and surveyed her male parent’s recumbent form upon the sofa.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading MICE AND MEN "Sylvia, is your father in from his walk?"
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading (Sylvia was rather addicted to little preciosities of this kind.)
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, mother mine," she replied.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading MICE AND MEN "Sylvia, is your father in from his walk?"
Chapter 12 of Happy-go-lucky by Ian Hay holds 259 sentences, grouped into 52 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 12 holds 259 sentences of Happy-go-lucky, unabridged, divided into 52 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 12 of Happy-go-lucky by Ian Hay exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 259 sentences, grouped into 52 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 52 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 52 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 12 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.
Common questions about reading Happy-go-lucky by Ian Hay on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5192 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #40487 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #40487, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 432 minutes of reading across 1039 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Happy-go-lucky section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 26 chapters of Happy-go-lucky 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 Happy-go-lucky, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
