Chapter 1 of Hepplestall's is here in full — 36 sentences across 8 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Hepplestall's is here in full — 36 sentences across 8 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was. He took it up contemptuously. “That,” he said. “Dear me, I thought I’d put it in the dust-bin. It’s fit for nothing but destruction.”
Chapter 1 of Hepplestall's is here in full — 36 sentences across 8 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/7 · 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.
without respect; in a disdainful manner
From this reading “He took it up contemptuously.”
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading “It’s fit for nothing but destruction.””
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading “It’s fit for nothing but destruction.””
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading “New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.”
filled with bewilderment
From this reading “New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.”
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading “New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.”
-ing form of “rummage” — search haphazardly
From this reading “New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.”
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading “New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.”
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.
find unexpectedly
In this reading “New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.”
In this reading “It’s fit for nothing but destruction.””
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 New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It’s fit for nothing but destruction.”
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
without respect; in a disdainful manner
From this reading He took it up contemptuously.
dearly loved
From this reading “Dear me, I thought I’d put it in the dust-bin.
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading It’s fit for nothing but destruction.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Dear me, I thought I’d put it in the dust-bin.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading It’s fit for nothing but destruction.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It’s fit for nothing but destruction.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He took it up contemptuously.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Dear me, I thought I’d put it in the dust-bin.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Dear me, I thought I’d put it in the dust-bin.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It’s fit for nothing but destruction.”
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It’s fit for nothing but destruction.”
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “Dear me, I thought I’d put it in the dust-bin.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
-ing form of “rummage” — search haphazardly
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “That,” he said.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “That,” he said.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “Dear me, I thought I’d put it in the dust-bin.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took it up contemptuously.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He took it up contemptuously.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading New York: Robert M. McBride & Company RUMMAGING at a bargain-counter, I came across an object which puzzled me, and, turning to the shopman, I asked him what it was.
Chapter 1 of Hepplestall's by Harold Brighouse holds 36 sentences, grouped into 8 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 1 holds 36 sentences of Hepplestall's, unabridged, divided into 8 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Hepplestall's by Harold Brighouse exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 36 sentences, grouped into 8 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 8 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 8 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 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.
Common questions about reading Hepplestall's by Harold Brighouse on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5798 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #55288 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #55288, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 483 minutes of reading across 1160 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Hepplestall's section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 23 chapters of Hepplestall's 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 Hepplestall's, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
