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Just—William
Just—William

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Just—William is here in full — 409 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Just—William
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.
William's eyes, large, reproachful, and gloomy, followed every movement.
"Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.
"I didn't _mean_ to hit that cat," said William earnestly.
"I didn't--honest.
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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.

Just—William

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Just—William is here in full — 409 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.
/ˈdʒʌmbəl ˈwɪljəmz ˈfɑːðər ˈkerfəli pleɪst ðə baʊ ənd ˈæroʊ æt ðə bæk ʌv ðə ˈlaɪbreriː ˈkʌbərd ðen kloʊzd ðə ˈkʌbərd dɔːr ənd lɑːkt ɪt ɪn ɡrɪm ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Line 2
William's eyes, large, reproachful, and gloomy, followed every movement.
Line 3
"Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.
Line 4
"I didn't _mean_ to hit that cat," said William earnestly.
Line 5
"I didn't--honest.

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.

arrow noun US /ˈæroʊ/

a mark to indicate a direction or relation

From this reading “"JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.”

cupboard noun US /ˈkʌbərd/

a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space

From this reading “"JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.”

earnestly adverb US /ˈɜːrnəstli/

in a serious manner

From this reading “"I didn't _mean_ to hit that cat," said William earnestly.”

gloomy adjective US /ˈɡluːmi/

depressingly dark

From this reading “William's eyes, large, reproachful, and gloomy, followed every movement.”

grim adjective US /ɡrɪm/

not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

From this reading “"JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.”

jumble noun US /ˈdʒʌmbəl/

a confused multitude of things

From this reading “"JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.”

sternly adverb US /ˈstɜːrnli/

with sternness; in a severe manner

From this reading “"Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.”

William's noun US /ˈwɪljəmz/

possessive form of “williams” — United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)

From this reading “"JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.”

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.

grim silence adjective + noun

In this reading “"JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.”

carefully placed adverb + adjective

In this reading “"JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.”

cupboard door noun + noun

In this reading “"JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.”

All words in this reading · 51

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.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading "Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

arrownounUS /ˈæroʊ/

a mark to indicate a direction or relation

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading "Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.

bownounUS /baʊ/

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

BrownnounUS /braʊn/

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading "Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.

carefullyadverbUS /ˈkerfəli/

taking care or paying attention

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

catnounUS /kæt/

feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading "Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.

Clive's

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

From this reading "Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.

closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

cupboardnounUS /ˈkʌbərd/

a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

didn't

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

From this reading "I didn't _mean_ to hit that cat," said William earnestly.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

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

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

earnestlyadverbUS /ˈɜːrnəstli/

in a serious manner

From this reading "I didn't _mean_ to hit that cat," said William earnestly.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading William's eyes, large, reproachful, and gloomy, followed every movement.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading William's eyes, large, reproachful, and gloomy, followed every movement.

fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading William's eyes, large, reproachful, and gloomy, followed every movement.

gloomyadjectiveUS /ˈɡluːmi/

depressingly dark

From this reading William's eyes, large, reproachful, and gloomy, followed every movement.

grimadjectiveUS /ɡrɪm/

not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

hitverbUS /hɪt/

cause to move by striking

From this reading "I didn't _mean_ to hit that cat," said William earnestly.

honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnəst/

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading "I didn't--honest.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I didn't _mean_ to hit that cat," said William earnestly.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

JUMBLEnounUS /ˈdʒʌmbəl/

a confused multitude of things

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading William's eyes, large, reproachful, and gloomy, followed every movement.

librarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/

a room where books are kept

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

lockedverbUS /lɑːkt/

past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

meanverbUS /miːn/

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading "I didn't _mean_ to hit that cat," said William earnestly.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading "Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.

movementnounUS /ˈmuːvmənt/

a change of position that does not entail a change of location

From this reading William's eyes, large, reproachful, and gloomy, followed every movement.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading "Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading "Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.

placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

reproachfuladjective

expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective

From this reading William's eyes, large, reproachful, and gloomy, followed every movement.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I didn't _mean_ to hit that cat," said William earnestly.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

sternlyadverbUS /ˈstɜːrnli/

with sternness; in a severe manner

From this reading "Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "I didn't _mean_ to hit that cat," said William earnestly.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

ThreenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading "Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "I didn't _mean_ to hit that cat," said William earnestly.

William

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

From this reading "I didn't _mean_ to hit that cat," said William earnestly.

William'snounUS /ˈwɪljəmz/

possessive form of “williams” — United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)

From this reading "JUMBLE" William's father carefully placed the bow and arrow at the back of the library cupboard, then closed the cupboard door and locked it in grim silence.

windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading "Three windows and Mrs. Clive's cat all in one morning," began Mr. Brown sternly.

Chapter 12 of Just—William by Richmal Crompton holds 409 sentences, grouped into 82 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 12 of Just—William contain?

Chapter 12 holds 409 sentences of Just—William, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Just—William by Richmal Crompton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 409 sentences, grouped into 82 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 12 of Just—William?

Work through the 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 82 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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 Just—William

Common questions about reading Just—William by Richmal Crompton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Just—William?

Yes. All 4289 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34414 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Just—William is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #34414, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Just—William take to read?

About 357 minutes of reading across 858 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Just—William section by section

How to work through Just—William section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 12 chapters of Just—William 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 Just—William

Words and structures a reader meets early in Just—William, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

London
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Just—William; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
George
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Just—William; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Newnes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Just—William; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Limited
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Just—William; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.