Chapter 1 of Masks and Faces is here in full — 459 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Masks and Faces is here in full — 459 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
OR, BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN. A Comedy IN TWO ACTS. TOM TAYLOR AND CHARLES READE. [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
Chapter 1 of Masks and Faces is here in full — 459 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/91 · 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.
plural of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading “[_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.”
light and humorous drama with a happy ending
From this reading “A Comedy IN TWO ACTS.”
plural of “mask” — a covering to disguise or conceal the face
From this reading “[_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.”
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading “[_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.”
United States composer and music critic (1885-1966)
From this reading “TOM TAYLOR AND CHARLES READE.”
plural of “theatre” — a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading “[_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.”
-ing form of “translate” — restate (words) from one language into another language
From this reading “[_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.”
English playwright (1580-1625)
From this reading “[_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.”
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.
In this reading “OR, BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN.”
In this reading “[_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.”
In this reading “A Comedy IN TWO ACTS.”
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 [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Comedy IN TWO ACTS.
a New Testament book describing the development of the early church from Christ's Ascension to Paul's sojourn at Rome
From this reading A Comedy IN TWO ACTS.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading OR, BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
plural of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading OR, BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN.
at or toward the back of something
From this reading OR, BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading TOM TAYLOR AND CHARLES READE.
light and humorous drama with a happy ending
From this reading A Comedy IN TWO ACTS.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading OR, BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A Comedy IN TWO ACTS.
plural of “mask” — a covering to disguise or conceal the face
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
a form of address for a man
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading OR, BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOM TAYLOR AND CHARLES READE.
formality and propriety of manner
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
precisely, exactly
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
United States composer and music critic (1885-1966)
From this reading TOM TAYLOR AND CHARLES READE.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OR, BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN.
plural of “theatre” — a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
male cat
From this reading TOM TAYLOR AND CHARLES READE.
-ing form of “translate” — restate (words) from one language into another language
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A Comedy IN TWO ACTS.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
English playwright (1580-1625)
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.
Chapter 1 of Masks and Faces by Tom Taylor holds 459 sentences, grouped into 92 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 459 sentences of Masks and Faces, unabridged, divided into 92 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Masks and Faces by Tom Taylor exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 459 sentences, grouped into 92 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 92 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 92 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.
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Words and structures a reader meets early in Masks and Faces, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
