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Jack Sheppard: A Romance
Jack Sheppard: A Romance

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Jack Sheppard: A Romance is here in full — 187 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Jack Sheppard: A Romance
Context Illustration Reading 1/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Widow and her Child.
On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.
This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.
He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.
His clothes had evidently seen some service, and were plentifully begrimed with the dust of the workshop.
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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.

Jack Sheppard: A Romance

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Jack Sheppard: A Romance is here in full — 187 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Widow and her Child.
/ðə ˈwɪdoʊ ənd hɜːr tʃaɪld/
Line 2
On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.
Line 3
This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.
Line 4
He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.
Line 5
His clothes had evidently seen some service, and were plentifully begrimed with the dust of the workshop.

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.

Borough noun US /ˈbɜːroʊ/

one of the administrative divisions of a large city

From this reading “On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.”

buckles noun US /ˈbʌkəlz/

plural of “buckle” — fastener that fastens together two ends of a belt or strap; often has loose prong

From this reading “This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.”

frieze noun US /friːz/

an architectural ornament consisting of a horizontal sculptured band between the architrave and the cornice

From this reading “This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.”

Mint noun US /mɪnt/

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading “On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.”

plush adjective US /plʌʃ/

characterized by extravagance and profusion

From this reading “This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.”

workshop noun US /ˈwɜːrkʃɑːp/

small workplace where handcrafts or manufacturing are done

From this reading “His clothes had evidently seen some service, and were plentifully begrimed with the dust of the workshop.”

worsted noun US /ˈwɜːrstɪd/

a woolen fabric with a hard textured surface and no nap; woven of worsted yarns "he wore a worsted suit"

From this reading “This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.”

wrapper noun US /ˈræpər/

a loose dressing gown for women

From this reading “He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.”

All words in this reading · 105

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.

1703

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

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

26th

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

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

agenounUS /eɪdʒ/

how long something has existed

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The Widow and her Child.

appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

attiredadjectiveUS /əˈtaɪrd/

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

begrimedadjective

thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot

From this reading His clothes had evidently seen some service, and were plentifully begrimed with the dust of the workshop.

blackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

BoroughnounUS /ˈbɜːroʊ/

one of the administrative divisions of a large city

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

breechesnounUS /ˈbriːtʃɪz/

(used in the plural) trousers ending above the knee

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

brownnounUS /braʊn/

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

bucklesnounUS /ˈbʌkəlz/

plural of “buckle” — fastener that fastens together two ends of a belt or strap; often has loose prong

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

ChildnounUS /tʃaɪld/

a young person of either sex

From this reading The Widow and her Child.

clothesnounUS /kloʊðz/

clothing in general

From this reading His clothes had evidently seen some service, and were plentifully begrimed with the dust of the workshop.

coatnounUS /koʊt/

an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

collarnounUS /ˈkɑːlər/

a band that fits around the neck and is usually folded over

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

double-breastedadjective

(of clothing) fastened by lapping one edge of the front well over the other usually with a double row of buttons

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

druggetnoun

a rug made of a coarse fabric having a cotton warp and a wool filling

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

dustverbUS /dʌst/

remove the dust from

From this reading His clothes had evidently seen some service, and were plentifully begrimed with the dust of the workshop.

elevenadjectiveUS /ɪˈlevən/

being one more than ten

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

evidentlyadverbUS /ˈevədəntli/

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading His clothes had evidently seen some service, and were plentifully begrimed with the dust of the workshop.

fastenedadjectiveUS /ˈfæsənd/

firmly closed or secured

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

foldedverbUS /ˈfoʊldəd/

past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other

From this reading He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.

fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/

being ten more than thirty

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

FridaynounUS /ˈfraɪdi/

the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

friezenounUS /friːz/

an architectural ornament consisting of a horizontal sculptured band between the architrave and the cornice

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

greyadjectiveUS /ɡreɪ/

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

habitationnounUS /ˌhæbəˈteɪʃən/

the native habitat or home of an animal or plant

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

hatnounUS /hæt/

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.

heelsnounUS /hiːlz/

plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The Widow and her Child.

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

hosenounUS /hoʊz/

socks and stockings and tights collectively (the British include underwear)

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

kneesnounUS /niːz/

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/

light in a transparent protective case

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

MintnounUS /mɪnt/

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

miserableadjectiveUS /ˈmɪzərəbəl/

very unhappy; full of misery

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

obscureverbUS /əbsˈkjʊr/

make less visible or unclear

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

OldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

plentifullyadverb

in a bountiful manner

From this reading His clothes had evidently seen some service, and were plentifully begrimed with the dust of the workshop.

plushadjectiveUS /plʌʃ/

characterized by extravagance and profusion

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

pocketsnounUS /ˈpɑːkəts/

plural of “pocket” — a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

quarternounUS /ˈkwɔːrtər/

one of four equal parts

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

quartersnounUS /ˈkwɔːrtərz/

housing available for people to live in

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

reachingnounUS /ˈriːtʃɪŋ/

the act of physically reaching or thrusting out

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

sandy-coloured

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

From this reading He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.

scratchverbUS /skrætʃ/

cause friction

From this reading He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading His clothes had evidently seen some service, and were plentifully begrimed with the dust of the workshop.

servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading His clothes had evidently seen some service, and were plentifully begrimed with the dust of the workshop.

shoesnounUS /ʃuːz/

a particular situation

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

silvernounUS /ˈsɪlvər/

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

situatedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪtʃuːeɪtɪd/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/

plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading His clothes had evidently seen some service, and were plentifully begrimed with the dust of the workshop.

Southwark

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

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Widow and her Child.

thickadjectiveUS /θɪk/

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

three-corneredadjective

having three corners

From this reading He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.

thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/

the starting point for a new state or experience

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

throatnounUS /θroʊt/

The passage at the back of the mouth.

From this reading He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

toesnounUS /toʊz/

plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

waistcoatnoun

a man's sleeveless garment worn underneath a coat

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading His clothes had evidently seen some service, and were plentifully begrimed with the dust of the workshop.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

WidownounUS /ˈwɪdoʊ/

a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried

From this reading The Widow and her Child.

wignounUS /wɪɡ/

hairpiece covering the head and made of real or synthetic hair

From this reading He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading On the night of Friday, the 26th of November, 1703, and at the hour of eleven, the door of a miserable habitation, situated in an obscure quarter of the Borough of Southwark, known as the Old Mint, was opened; and a man, with a lantern in his hand, appeared at the threshold.

woodenadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdən/

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

woollennounUS /ˈwʊlən/

a fabric made from the hair of sheep

From this reading He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.

woreverbUS /wɔːr/

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.

workshopnounUS /ˈwɜːrkʃɑːp/

small workplace where handcrafts or manufacturing are done

From this reading His clothes had evidently seen some service, and were plentifully begrimed with the dust of the workshop.

worstednounUS /ˈwɜːrstɪd/

a woolen fabric with a hard textured surface and no nap; woven of worsted yarns "he wore a worsted suit"

From this reading This person, whose age might be about forty, was attired in a brown double-breasted frieze coat, with very wide skirts, and a very narrow collar; a light drugget waistcoat, with pockets reaching to the knees; black plush breeches; grey worsted hose; and shoes with round toes, wooden heels, and high quarters, fastened by small silver buckles.

wrappernounUS /ˈræpər/

a loose dressing gown for women

From this reading He wore a three-cornered hat, a sandy-coloured scratch wig, and had a thick woollen wrapper folded round his throat.

Chapter 1 of Jack Sheppard: A Romance by William Harrison Ainsworth holds 187 sentences, grouped into 38 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 Jack Sheppard: A Romance contain?

Chapter 1 holds 187 sentences of Jack Sheppard: A Romance, unabridged, divided into 38 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Jack Sheppard: A Romance by William Harrison Ainsworth exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 187 sentences, grouped into 38 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 Jack Sheppard: A Romance?

Work through the 38 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 38 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 Jack Sheppard: A Romance

Common questions about reading Jack Sheppard: A Romance by William Harrison Ainsworth on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Jack Sheppard: A Romance?

Yes. All 9404 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #16215 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Jack Sheppard: A Romance is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #16215, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Jack Sheppard: A Romance take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1881 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Jack Sheppard: A Romance section by section

How to work through Jack Sheppard: A Romance section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Jack Sheppard: A Romance 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 Jack Sheppard: A Romance

Words and structures a reader meets early in Jack Sheppard: A Romance, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Widow
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jack Sheppard: A Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Child
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jack Sheppard: A Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Night
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jack Sheppard: A Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Friday
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jack Sheppard: A Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.