Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Mark Twain: A Biography. Complete
Mark Twain: A Biography. Complete

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Mark Twain: A Biography. Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/131 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:
I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.
First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”
Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.
And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Mark Twain: A Biography. Complete

Chapter I

Reading 1/131 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:
Line 2
I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.
Line 3
First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”
Line 4
Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.
Line 5
And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.”

Express verb US /ɪkˈspres/

to show or communicate a feeling or idea

From this reading “Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.””

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.””

Memories noun US /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/

Recollections of past events.

From this reading “Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.”

Precious adjective US /ˈpreʃəs/

rare and worth a great deal

From this reading “Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.””

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.””

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.””

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.”

All words in this reading · 99

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

ago

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

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

all

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

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

any

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

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

association

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

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

cannot

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

chapters

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

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

confess

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

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

days

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

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

Dean

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

Dear

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

envied

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

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

envy

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

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/

to show or communicate a feeling or idea

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

FirstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

follow

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

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

friends

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

gipsying

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

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

give

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

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

go

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

gone

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

Goodman

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

grace

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

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

grateful

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

helped

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

hoard

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

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

Hopkins

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

how

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

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

Howells

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

Joseph

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

lastly

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

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

letters

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

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

making

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

man

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

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

Mark

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/

Recollections of past events.

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

more

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

much

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

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

nature

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

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

NextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

old

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

other

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/

rare and worth a great deal

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

press

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

six

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

some

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

T

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading And, lastly, I want to tell you that I do not envy you so much, any more, for in these chapters, one after another, through your grace, I have gone gipsying with you all.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

treasures

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

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

Twain

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

Twichell

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

unstintedly

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

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

volumes

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

want

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

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

William

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

From this reading Dear William Dean Howells, Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Joseph T. Goodman, and other old friends of Mark Twain:

willingness

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

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

wonder

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

From this reading Next, I want to express my wonder at your willingness to give me so unstintedly from your precious letters and memories, when it is in the nature of man to hoard such treasures, for himself and for those who follow him.

word

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

years

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

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I cannot let these volumes go to press without some grateful word to you who have helped me during the six years and more that have gone to their making.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading First, I want to confess how I have envied you your association with Mark Twain in those days when you and he “went gipsying, a long time ago.”