Chapter 1 of In Vain is here in full — 13 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of In Vain is here in full — 13 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font. The (rare) oe ligatures were replaced by "oe". _Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC. University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. INTRODUCTORY.
Chapter 1 of In Vain is here in full — 13 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/2 · 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.
a university in England
From this reading “University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.”
an overwhelming number or amount
From this reading “_Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.”
a specific size and style of type within a type family
From this reading “Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.”
serving to open or begin
From this reading “INTRODUCTORY.”
a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right
From this reading “Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.”
make a sweeping movement
From this reading “_Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.”
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading “The (rare) oe ligatures were replaced by "oe".”
author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)
From this reading “University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.”
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.
In this reading “The (rare) oe ligatures were replaced by "oe".”
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 Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading _Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.
fearless and daring
From this reading Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.
a university in England
From this reading University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
an overwhelming number or amount
From this reading _Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.
start firing a weapon
From this reading _Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.
a specific size and style of type within a type family
From this reading Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.
serving to open or begin
From this reading INTRODUCTORY.
a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right
From this reading Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The (rare) oe ligatures were replaced by "oe".
(Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews
From this reading _Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The (rare) oe ligatures were replaced by "oe".
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.
make a sweeping movement
From this reading _Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading The (rare) oe ligatures were replaced by "oe".
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading The (rare) oe ligatures were replaced by "oe".
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
a male human offspring
From this reading University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
confined on all sides
From this reading Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.
a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading _Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.
the words of something written
From this reading Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.
a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine
From this reading University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
the body of faculty and students at a university
From this reading University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Text surrounded by _ was italic in the original, text surrounded by = was bold and in a different font.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The (rare) oe ligatures were replaced by "oe".
author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)
From this reading University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
in the company of; together with
From this reading _Author of_ "QUO VADIS," "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," "HANIA," ETC.
Chapter 1 of In Vain by Henryk Sienkiewicz holds 13 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.
Chapter 1 holds 13 sentences of In Vain, unabridged, divided into 3 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of In Vain by Henryk Sienkiewicz exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 13 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.
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.
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 In Vain by Henryk Sienkiewicz on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3217 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #46454 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #46454, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 268 minutes of reading across 644 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through In Vain section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 23 chapters of In Vain 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 In Vain, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
