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Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May
Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May is here in full — 65 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Phil May • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May
Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.
PREACHING AND PRACTISING.
_Lady Bountiful_ (_to old Parishioner_).
“I hope you like our New Clergyman’s Sermons, Mrs. Brown?”
_Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May is here in full — 65 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.
Line 2
PREACHING AND PRACTISING.
Line 3
_Lady Bountiful_ (_to old Parishioner_).
/ˈleɪdi ˈbaʊntɪfəl tuː oʊld pərˈɪʃənər/
Line 4
“I hope you like our New Clergyman’s Sermons, Mrs. Brown?”
Line 5
_Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

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.

Bountiful adjective US /ˈbaʊntɪfəl/

given or giving freely

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
drawings noun US /ˈdrɔːɪŋz/

plural of “drawing” — an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

From this reading ““PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Parishioner noun US /pərˈɪʃənər/

a member of a parish

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Practise verb US /ˈpræktɪs/

engage in a rehearsal

From this reading “_Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Preach verb US /priːtʃ/

deliver a sermon

From this reading “_Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
preaching noun US /ˈpriːtʃɪŋ/

an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)

From this reading “PREACHING AND PRACTISING.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Reproduced verb US /ˌriːprəˈduːst/

past form of “reproduce” — make a copy or equivalent of

From this reading ““PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Sermons noun US /ˈsɜːrmənz/

plural of “sermon” — an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)

From this reading ““I hope you like our New Clergyman’s Sermons, Mrs. Brown?””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

original drawings adjective + noun counted as “original drawing”

In this reading ““PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.”

170 times in 426,212 chapters
kind permission adjective + noun

In this reading ““PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.”

302 times in 426,212 chapters

All words in this reading · 52

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.

10

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

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

Pending verification
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading PREACHING AND PRACTISING.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading _Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BountifuladjectiveUS /ˈbaʊntɪfəl/

given or giving freely

From this reading _Lady Bountiful_ (_to old Parishioner_).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BOUVERIE

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

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

Pending verification
BrownnounUS /braʊn/

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading “I hope you like our New Clergyman’s Sermons, Mrs. Brown?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading _Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CnounUS /siː/

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Clergyman's

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

From this reading “I hope you like our New Clergyman’s Sermons, Mrs. Brown?”

Pending verification
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading _Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
don't

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

From this reading _Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

Pending verification
drawingsnounUS /ˈdrɔːɪŋz/

plural of “drawing” — an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EnounUS /iː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HnounUS /eɪtʃ/

a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading _Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HistorynounUS /ˈhɪstəri/

the aggregate of past events

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading “I hope you like our New Clergyman’s Sermons, Mrs. Brown?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I hope you like our New Clergyman’s Sermons, Mrs. Brown?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading _Lady Bountiful_ (_to old Parishioner_).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading “I hope you like our New Clergyman’s Sermons, Mrs. Brown?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading “I hope you like our New Clergyman’s Sermons, Mrs. Brown?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading _Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
NewadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading “I hope you like our New Clergyman’s Sermons, Mrs. Brown?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OFFICEnounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading _Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading _Lady Bountiful_ (_to old Parishioner_).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
originaladjectiveUS /ərˈɪdʒənəl/

preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading “I hope you like our New Clergyman’s Sermons, Mrs. Brown?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ownder

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

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

Pending verification
ParishionernounUS /pərˈɪʃənər/

a member of a parish

From this reading _Lady Bountiful_ (_to old Parishioner_).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
permissionnounUS /pərˈmɪʃən/

approval to do something

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PractiseverbUS /ˈpræktɪs/

engage in a rehearsal

From this reading _Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PRACTISING

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

From this reading PREACHING AND PRACTISING.

Pending verification
PreachverbUS /priːtʃ/

deliver a sermon

From this reading _Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PREACHINGnounUS /ˈpriːtʃɪŋ/

an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)

From this reading PREACHING AND PRACTISING.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PUNCHverbUS /pʌntʃ/

deliver a quick blow to

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading _Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ReproducedverbUS /ˌriːprəˈduːst/

past form of “reproduce” — make a copy or equivalent of

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading _Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SermonsnounUS /ˈsɜːrmənz/

plural of “sermon” — an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)

From this reading “I hope you like our New Clergyman’s Sermons, Mrs. Brown?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Spielmann

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

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

Pending verification
STREETnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “PUNCH” OFFICE, 10, BOUVERIE STREET, E.C. Reproduced from “The History of Punch” by the kind permission of Mr. H. H. Spielmann, the ownder of the original drawings.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading _Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading _Lady Bountiful_ (_to old Parishioner_).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading _Mrs. Brown_: “Oh yes, my Lady, he do Preach quite beautiful; but then, you see, he don’t Practise.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “I hope you like our New Clergyman’s Sermons, Mrs. Brown?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May by Phil May holds 65 sentences, grouped into 13 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 Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May contain?

Chapter 1 holds 65 sentences of Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May, unabridged, divided into 13 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May by Phil May exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 65 sentences, grouped into 13 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 Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May?

Work through the 13 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 13 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 Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May

Common questions about reading Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May by Phil May on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May?

Yes. All 65 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #62969 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #62969, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 13 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May section by section

How to work through Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May

Words and structures a reader meets early in Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Punch
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Office
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bouverie
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Street
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Humorists of the Pencil: Phil May; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.