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Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia
Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia

Chapter XV

Chapter 15 of Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia is here in full — 92 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Seba Smith • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.
20th, 1862.
_To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.
It is astonishin how littel takes him down now-a-days.
His constitushin seems to be eenamost clean gone.
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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.

Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia

Chapter XV

Chapter 15 of Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia is here in full — 92 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.
Line 2
20th, 1862.
Line 3
_To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.
Line 4
It is astonishin how littel takes him down now-a-days.
Line 5
His constitushin seems to be eenamost clean gone.

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.

Democrat noun US /ˈdeməkræt/

a member of the Democratic Party

From this reading “_The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Elections noun US /ɪˈlekʃənz/

plural of “election” — a vote to select the winner of a position or political office

From this reading “_The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Gen noun US /dʒen/

informal term for information

From this reading “_The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Kernel noun US /ˈkɜːrnəl/

the inner and usually edible part of a seed or grain or nut or fruit stone

From this reading “_To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Oct noun US /ɔːkt/

the month following September and preceding November

From this reading “_The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Scott's noun US /skɑːts/

possessive form of “scott” — award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)

From this reading “_The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Seward noun US /ˈsuːərd/

United States politician who as Secretary of State in 1867 arranged for the purchase of Alaska from Russia (known at the time as Seward's Folly) (1801-1872)

From this reading “_The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Stanton noun US /ˈstæntən/

United States suffragist and feminist; called for reform of the practices that perpetuated sexual inequality (1815-1902)

From this reading “_The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 60

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.

1862

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

From this reading 20th, 1862.

Pending verification
20th

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

From this reading 20th, 1862.

Pending verification
adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
agin

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

From this reading _To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.

Pending verification
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AstonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
astonishin

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

From this reading It is astonishin how littel takes him down now-a-days.

Pending verification
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading His constitushin seems to be eenamost clean gone.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
bennounUS /ben/

a mountain or tall hill

From this reading _To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Buren

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

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

Pending verification
Cawcashin

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

From this reading _To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.

Pending verification
cleanadjectiveUS /kliːn/

free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits

From this reading His constitushin seems to be eenamost clean gone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
constitushin

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

From this reading His constitushin seems to be eenamost clean gone.

Pending verification
CordialadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːrdʒəl/

diffusing warmth and friendliness

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DemocratnounUS /ˈdeməkræt/

a member of the Democratic Party

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading It is astonishin how littel takes him down now-a-days.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DrinkverbUS /drɪŋk/

take in liquids

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Editers

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

From this reading _To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.

Pending verification
eenamost

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

From this reading His constitushin seems to be eenamost clean gone.

Pending verification
ElectionsnounUS /ɪˈlekʃənz/

plural of “election” — a vote to select the winner of a position or political office

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GennounUS /dʒen/

informal term for information

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading His constitushin seems to be eenamost clean gone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading _To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It is astonishin how littel takes him down now-a-days.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His constitushin seems to be eenamost clean gone.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
How

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

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

Pending verification
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is astonishin how littel takes him down now-a-days.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is astonishin how littel takes him down now-a-days.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
KernelnounUS /ˈkɜːrnəl/

the inner and usually edible part of a seed or grain or nut or fruit stone

From this reading _To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LetternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LincolnnounUS /ˈlɪŋkən/

16th President of the United States; saved the Union during the American Civil War and emancipated the slaves; was assassinated by Booth (1809-1865)

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
littel

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

From this reading It is astonishin how littel takes him down now-a-days.

Pending verification
MajoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NervousadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrvəs/

easily agitated

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
now-a-days

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

From this reading It is astonishin how littel takes him down now-a-days.

Pending verification
OctnounUS /ɔːkt/

the month following September and preceding November

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
PresidentnounUS /ˈprezədent/

an executive officer of a firm or corporation

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Scott'snounUS /skɑːts/

possessive form of “scott” — award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seemsverbUS /siːmz/

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading His constitushin seems to be eenamost clean gone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SewardnounUS /ˈsuːərd/

United States politician who as Secretary of State in 1867 arranged for the purchase of Alaska from Russia (known at the time as Seward's Folly) (1801-1872)

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sickadjectiveUS /sɪk/

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading _To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
StantonnounUS /ˈstæntən/

United States suffragist and feminist; called for reform of the practices that perpetuated sexual inequality (1815-1902)

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
StatenounUS /steɪt/

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
StorynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SURS

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

From this reading _To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.

Pending verification
TakeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TakesnounUS /teɪks/

plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TellsnounUS /telz/

plural of “tell” — a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

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 _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading _To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TurnsnounUS /tɜːrnz/

plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
VannounUS /væn/

any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Wal

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

From this reading _To the Editers of The Cawcashin:_ SURS: Wal, the Kernel has ben sick agin.

Pending verification
WASHINGTONnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋtən/

the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791

From this reading _The President Nervous--The State Elections--Mr. Lincoln Astonished --He Takes Cordial--Mr. Seward Turns Democrat--The Major Tells a Story--Mr. Seward and the Major Take a Drink--How John Van Buren got Gen. Scott's Letter--Mr. Stanton on the Elections._ WASHINGTON, Oct.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 15 of Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia by Seba Smith holds 92 sentences, grouped into 19 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 15 of Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia contain?

Chapter 15 holds 92 sentences of Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia by Seba Smith exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 92 sentences, grouped into 19 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 15 of Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia?

Work through the 19 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 19 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.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 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 Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia

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Is this the complete text of Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia?

Yes. All 2887 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #36175 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #36175, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia take to read?

About 240 minutes of reading across 578 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia section by section

How to work through Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

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Vocabulary met early in Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia

Words and structures a reader meets early in Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Trouble
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Message--chase
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Seward
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fault
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.