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Hempfield: A Novel
Hempfield: A Novel

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Hempfield: A Novel is here in full — 15 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Hempfield: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/3 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.
It came only gradually alive for us.
As the years passed the utilitarian stranger with whom we traded became an acquaintance, and the acquaintance a friend.
Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.
One of the first was the old gunsmith of whom I have already written.
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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.

Hempfield: A Novel

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Hempfield: A Novel is here in full — 15 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/3 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.
Line 2
It came only gradually alive for us.
/ɪt keɪm ˈoʊnli ˈɡrædʒuːəli əˈlaɪv fɔːr ʌs/
Line 3
As the years passed the utilitarian stranger with whom we traded became an acquaintance, and the acquaintance a friend.
/æz ðə jɪrz pæst ðə juːˌtɪləˈteriən ˈstreɪndʒər wɪð huːm wiː ˈtreɪdɪd bɪˈkeɪm æn əˈkweɪntəns ənd ðə əˈkweɪntəns ə frend/
Line 4
Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.
/hiːr ənd ðer ə mæn ɔːr ə ˈwʊmən stept aʊt ʌv ðə ˈbækɡraʊnd æz ɪt wɜːr ʌv ə dɪm ˈpɪktʃər ənd bɪˈkeɪm ə ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈbiːɪŋ/
Line 5
One of the first was the old gunsmith of whom I have already written.

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.

adjuncts noun US /ˈædʒʌŋkts/

plural of “adjunct” — something added to another thing but not an essential part of it

From this reading “I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.”

Biblical adjective US /ˈbɪbləkəl/

of or pertaining to or contained in or in accordance with the Bible

From this reading “I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.”

implements noun US /ˈɪmpləmənts/

plural of “implement” — instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end

From this reading “I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.”

inanimate adjective US /ˌɪˈnænəmət/

belonging to the class of nouns denoting nonliving things

From this reading “I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.”

plough noun US /plaʊ/

a group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major

From this reading “I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.”

relationships noun US /riˈleɪʃənʃɪps/

plural of “relationship” — a relation between people; (“relationship” is often used where “relation” would serve, as in `the relationship between inflation and unemployment', but the preferred usage of “relationship” is for human relations or states of relatedness)

From this reading “I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.”

traded verb US /ˈtreɪdɪd/

past form of “trade” — engage in the trade of

From this reading “As the years passed the utilitarian stranger with whom we traded became an acquaintance, and the acquaintance a friend.”

utilitarian adjective US /juːˌtɪləˈteriən/

having a useful function

From this reading “As the years passed the utilitarian stranger with whom we traded became an acquaintance, and the acquaintance a friend.”

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.

neighbouring town noun + noun counted as “neighbour town”

In this reading “I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.”

already written adverb + adjective

In this reading “One of the first was the old gunsmith of whom I have already written.”

For years preposition + noun

In this reading “I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.”

All words in this reading · 84

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading As the years passed the utilitarian stranger with whom we traded became an acquaintance, and the acquaintance a friend.

acquaintancenounUS /əˈkweɪntəns/

personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading As the years passed the utilitarian stranger with whom we traded became an acquaintance, and the acquaintance a friend.

adjunctsnounUS /ˈædʒʌŋkts/

plural of “adjunct” — something added to another thing but not an essential part of it

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/

possessing life

From this reading It came only gradually alive for us.

alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading One of the first was the old gunsmith of whom I have already written.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/

a person's social heritage: previous experience or training

From this reading Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.

becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading As the years passed the utilitarian stranger with whom we traded became an acquaintance, and the acquaintance a friend.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.

BiblicaladjectiveUS /ˈbɪbləkəl/

of or pertaining to or contained in or in accordance with the Bible

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading It came only gradually alive for us.

clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/

a covering designed to be worn on a person's body

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

confinedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaɪnd/

not invading healthy tissue

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.

DISCOVERverbUS /dɪˈskʌvər/

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading One of the first was the old gunsmith of whom I have already written.

foodnounUS /fuːd/

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading As the years passed the utilitarian stranger with whom we traded became an acquaintance, and the acquaintance a friend.

friendlyadjectiveUS /ˈfrendli/

characteristic of or befitting a friend

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

graduallyadverbUS /ˈɡrædʒuːəli/

in a gradual manner

From this reading It came only gradually alive for us.

gunsmithnoun

someone who makes or repairs guns

From this reading One of the first was the old gunsmith of whom I have already written.

Harriet

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

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading One of the first was the old gunsmith of whom I have already written.

Hempfield

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

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

HereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.

how

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

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

implementsnounUS /ˈɪmpləmənts/

plural of “implement” — instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

inanimateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnænəmət/

belonging to the class of nouns denoting nonliving things

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

insensateadjective

devoid of feeling and consciousness and animation

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It came only gradually alive for us.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

knowingadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊɪŋ/

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.

mereadjectiveUS /mɪr/

being nothing more than specified

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

missedadjectiveUS /mɪst/

not caught with the senses or the mind

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

nayexclamationUS /neɪ/

an old word for “no”

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

needsadverbUS /niːdz/

in such a manner as could not be otherwise

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

neighbouringverbUS /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/

-ing form of “neighbour” — live or be located as a neighbor

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading One of the first was the old gunsmith of whom I have already written.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading It came only gradually alive for us.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading As the years passed the utilitarian stranger with whom we traded became an acquaintance, and the acquaintance a friend.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

picturenounUS /ˈpɪktʃər/

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.

ploughnounUS /plaʊ/

a group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

PRINTING-OFFICE

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

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

provisionnounUS /prəˈvɪʒən/

a stipulated condition

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

relationshipsnounUS /riˈleɪʃənʃɪps/

plural of “relationship” — a relation between people; (“relationship” is often used where “relation” would serve, as in `the relationship between inflation and unemployment', but the preferred usage of “relationship” is for human relations or states of relatedness)

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

rolling-pin

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

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

steppedverbUS /stept/

inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step

From this reading Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.

strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading As the years passed the utilitarian stranger with whom we traded became an acquaintance, and the acquaintance a friend.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

tradedverbUS /ˈtreɪdɪd/

past form of “trade” — engage in the trade of

From this reading As the years passed the utilitarian stranger with whom we traded became an acquaintance, and the acquaintance a friend.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It came only gradually alive for us.

usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

utilitarianadjectiveUS /juːˌtɪləˈteriən/

having a useful function

From this reading As the years passed the utilitarian stranger with whom we traded became an acquaintance, and the acquaintance a friend.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading One of the first was the old gunsmith of whom I have already written.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading As the years passed the utilitarian stranger with whom we traded became an acquaintance, and the acquaintance a friend.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Here and there a man or a woman stepped out of the background, as it were, of a dim picture, and became a living being.

writtenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪtən/

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading One of the first was the old gunsmith of whom I have already written.

yeaexclamationUS /jeɪ/

an old word for “yes”

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading I DISCOVER THE PRINTING-OFFICE For years my sister Harriet and I confined our relationships with the neighbouring town of Hempfield to the Biblical "yea, yea" and "nay, nay," not knowing how much we missed, and used its friendly people as one might use an inanimate plough or an insensate rolling-pin, as mere implements or adjuncts in the provision of food or clothing for our needs.

Chapter 1 of Hempfield: A Novel by David Grayson holds 15 sentences, grouped into 3 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 Hempfield: A Novel contain?

Chapter 1 holds 15 sentences of Hempfield: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 3 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Hempfield: A Novel by David Grayson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 15 sentences, grouped into 3 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 Hempfield: A Novel?

Work through the 3 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 3 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 Hempfield: A Novel

Common questions about reading Hempfield: A Novel by David Grayson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Hempfield: A Novel?

Yes. All 3250 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #33251 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Hempfield: A Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #33251, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Hempfield: A Novel take to read?

About 270 minutes of reading across 650 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Hempfield: A Novel section by section

How to work through Hempfield: A Novel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 28 chapters of Hempfield: A Novel 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 Hempfield: A Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in Hempfield: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Discover
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hempfield: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Printing-office
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hempfield: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Years
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hempfield: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sister
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hempfield: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.