Chapter 8 of Happy-Thought Hall is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VIII
Chapter 8 of Happy-Thought Hall is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A MORNING DISCUSSION. ON DEAFNESS--ESCAPES--BUTTONHOLED--A DISCUSSION--MORNING LOST--RAGE --DESPAIR. "Deaf people are very happy," says Boodels, thoughtfully. "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation." "Who does?" asks Bella, pertly.
Chapter 8 of Happy-Thought Hall is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/21 · 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.
third-person singular of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “"Who does?" asks Bella, pertly.”
past form of “buttonhole” — detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the outer garments of; as for political or economic favors
From this reading “ON DEAFNESS--ESCAPES--BUTTONHOLED--A DISCUSSION--MORNING LOST--RAGE --DESPAIR.”
lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing wholly or in part
From this reading “"Deaf people are very happy," says Boodels, thoughtfully.”
partial or complete loss of hearing
From this reading “ON DEAFNESS--ESCAPES--BUTTONHOLED--A DISCUSSION--MORNING LOST--RAGE --DESPAIR.”
the system of production and distribution and consumption
From this reading “"Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."”
plural of “escape” — the act of escaping physically
From this reading “ON DEAFNESS--ESCAPES--BUTTONHOLED--A DISCUSSION--MORNING LOST--RAGE --DESPAIR.”
plural of “reply” — a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading “"Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."”
of or relating to the practice of science
From this reading “"Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."”
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 MORNING DISCUSSION.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Deaf people are very happy," says Boodels, thoughtfully.
third-person singular of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Who does?" asks Bella, pertly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Who does?" asks Bella, pertly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Deaf people are very happy," says Boodels, thoughtfully.
past form of “buttonhole” — detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the outer garments of; as for political or economic favors
From this reading ON DEAFNESS--ESCAPES--BUTTONHOLED--A DISCUSSION--MORNING LOST--RAGE --DESPAIR.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing wholly or in part
From this reading "Deaf people are very happy," says Boodels, thoughtfully.
partial or complete loss of hearing
From this reading ON DEAFNESS--ESCAPES--BUTTONHOLED--A DISCUSSION--MORNING LOST--RAGE --DESPAIR.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading ON DEAFNESS--ESCAPES--BUTTONHOLED--A DISCUSSION--MORNING LOST--RAGE --DESPAIR.
an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic
From this reading A MORNING DISCUSSION.
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Who does?" asks Bella, pertly.
the system of production and distribution and consumption
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
plural of “escape” — the act of escaping physically
From this reading ON DEAFNESS--ESCAPES--BUTTONHOLED--A DISCUSSION--MORNING LOST--RAGE --DESPAIR.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
obtain
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading "Deaf people are very happy," says Boodels, thoughtfully.
a message received and understood
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading ON DEAFNESS--ESCAPES--BUTTONHOLED--A DISCUSSION--MORNING LOST--RAGE --DESPAIR.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A MORNING DISCUSSION.
not any; not one
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON DEAFNESS--ESCAPES--BUTTONHOLED--A DISCUSSION--MORNING LOST--RAGE --DESPAIR.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "Deaf people are very happy," says Boodels, thoughtfully.
by chance
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
a human being
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
in an impudent or impertinent manner
From this reading "Who does?" asks Bella, pertly.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading ON DEAFNESS--ESCAPES--BUTTONHOLED--A DISCUSSION--MORNING LOST--RAGE --DESPAIR.
plural of “reply” — a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading "Deaf people are very happy," says Boodels, thoughtfully.
of or relating to the practice of science
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Perhaps," replies the Professor of Scientific Economy; "a deaf person can gain no information from conversation."
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading "Deaf people are very happy," says Boodels, thoughtfully.
precisely as stated
From this reading "Deaf people are very happy," says Boodels, thoughtfully.
which person or people
From this reading "Who does?" asks Bella, pertly.
Chapter 8 of Happy-Thought Hall by F. C. (Francis Cowley) Burnand holds 106 sentences, grouped into 22 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 8 holds 106 sentences of Happy-Thought Hall, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 8 of Happy-Thought Hall by F. C. (Francis Cowley) Burnand exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 106 sentences, grouped into 22 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 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 22 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 8 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-Thought Hall by F. C. (Francis Cowley) Burnand on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3094 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #26281 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #26281, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 257 minutes of reading across 619 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Happy-Thought Hall section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 27 chapters of Happy-Thought Hall 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-Thought Hall, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
