Chapter 1 of Little "Why-because" is here in full — 148 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Little "Why-because" is here in full — 148 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc. LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C. "AUNTIE, what does 'ruthless' mean?" "Why do you wish to know, Hecla?" "I saw it in a book."
Chapter 1 of Little "Why-because" is here in full — 148 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading “Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.”
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading “"AUNTIE, what does 'ruthless' mean?"”
plural of “birdie” — (golf) a score of one stroke under par on a hole
From this reading “Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.”
the yard associated with a church
From this reading “LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.”
possessive form of “paul” — United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading “LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.”
plural of “precinct” — a district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes
From this reading “Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.”
without mercy or pity
From this reading “"AUNTIE, what does 'ruthless' mean?"”
an extended area of land
From this reading “LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I saw it in a book."
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading "AUNTIE, what does 'ruthless' mean?"
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
plural of “birdie” — (golf) a score of one stroke under par on a hole
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading "I saw it in a book."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.
a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature
From this reading LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.
the yard associated with a church
From this reading LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Why do you wish to know, Hecla?"
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "AUNTIE, what does 'ruthless' mean?"
a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body
From this reading LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why do you wish to know, Hecla?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I saw it in a book."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I saw it in a book."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I saw it in a book."
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Why do you wish to know, Hecla?"
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "AUNTIE, what does 'ruthless' mean?"
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
possessive form of “paul” — United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.
plural of “precinct” — a district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.
without mercy or pity
From this reading "AUNTIE, what does 'ruthless' mean?"
cut with a saw
From this reading "I saw it in a book."
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
plural of “story” — 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 Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Five Little Birdies," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "Through the Lynn," etc.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Why do you wish to know, Hecla?"
an extended area of land
From this reading LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "AUNTIE, what does 'ruthless' mean?"
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why do you wish to know, Hecla?"
hope for; have a wish
From this reading "Why do you wish to know, Hecla?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why do you wish to know, Hecla?"
Chapter 1 of Little "Why-because" by Agnes Giberne holds 148 sentences, grouped into 30 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 1 holds 148 sentences of Little "Why-because", unabridged, divided into 30 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Little "Why-because" by Agnes Giberne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 148 sentences, grouped into 30 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 30 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 30 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading Little "Why-because" by Agnes Giberne on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2218 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #74200 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #74200, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 184 minutes of reading across 444 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Little "Why-because" section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 13 chapters of Little "Why-because" to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Little "Why-because", each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
