Chapter 1 of I, the Unspeakable is here in full — 582 sentences across 117 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of I, the Unspeakable is here in full — 582 sentences across 117 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem! I fought to be awake. I was dreaming, but I think I must have blushed. I must have blushed in my sleep. "_Do it!_" she said.
Chapter 1 of I, the Unspeakable is here in full — 582 sentences across 117 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/116 · 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.
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading “I fought to be awake.”
past form of “blush” — turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
From this reading “I was dreaming, but I think I must have blushed.”
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading “I was dreaming, but I think I must have blushed.”
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading “I fought to be awake.”
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading “"What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!”
plural of “society” — an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading “"What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!”
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading “"What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!”
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading “"What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!”
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 "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
in addition
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading I fought to be awake.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
past form of “blush” — turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
From this reading I was dreaming, but I think I must have blushed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I was dreaming, but I think I must have blushed.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "_Do it!_" she said.
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading I was dreaming, but I think I must have blushed.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading I fought to be awake.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I was dreaming, but I think I must have blushed.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I fought to be awake.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "_Do it!_" she said.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I was dreaming, but I think I must have blushed.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I must have blushed in my sleep.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "_Do it!_" she said.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "_Do it!_" she said.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading I must have blushed in my sleep.
plural of “society” — an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I was dreaming, but I think I must have blushed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
precisely as stated
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was dreaming, but I think I must have blushed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "What's in a name?" might be very dangerous to ask in certain societies, in which sticks and stones are also a big problem!
Chapter 1 of I, the Unspeakable by Walter J. Sheldon holds 582 sentences, grouped into 117 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 582 sentences of I, the Unspeakable, unabridged, divided into 117 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of I, the Unspeakable by Walter J. Sheldon exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 582 sentences, grouped into 117 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 117 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 117 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 I, the Unspeakable by Walter J. Sheldon on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1161 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51210 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #51210, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 96 minutes of reading across 233 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through I, the Unspeakable section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 2 chapters of I, the Unspeakable 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 I, the Unspeakable, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
