Chapter 1 of Merry's Book of Puzzles is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Merry's Book of Puzzles is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
BOOK OF PUZZLES. EDITED BY ROBERT MERRY. PREFACE. The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time. Our motto is that of our noble State--"EXCELSIOR!"
Chapter 1 of Merry's Book of Puzzles is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/83 · 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.
improved or corrected by critical editing
From this reading “EDITED BY ROBERT MERRY.”
thin curly wood shavings used for packing or stuffing
From this reading “Our motto is that of our noble State--"EXCELSIOR!"”
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading “The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.”
a favorite saying of a sect or political group
From this reading “Our motto is that of our noble State--"EXCELSIOR!"”
a depository for collecting and displaying objects having scientific or historical or artistic value
From this reading “The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.”
relating to time long past
From this reading “The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.”
a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
From this reading “PREFACE.”
plural of “puzzle” — a particularly baffling problem that is said to have a correct solution
From this reading “BOOK OF PUZZLES.”
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 “The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.”
In this reading “The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.”
In this reading “The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.”
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.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading BOOK OF PUZZLES.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading EDITED BY ROBERT MERRY.
improved or corrected by critical editing
From this reading EDITED BY ROBERT MERRY.
thin curly wood shavings used for packing or stuffing
From this reading Our motto is that of our noble State--"EXCELSIOR!"
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
too numerous to be counted
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Our motto is that of our noble State--"EXCELSIOR!"
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
the sound of laughing
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
set afire or burning
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
come together
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading EDITED BY ROBERT MERRY.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
a favorite saying of a sect or political group
From this reading Our motto is that of our noble State--"EXCELSIOR!"
a depository for collecting and displaying objects having scientific or historical or artistic value
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
impressive in appearance
From this reading Our motto is that of our noble State--"EXCELSIOR!"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BOOK OF PUZZLES.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
relating to time long past
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our motto is that of our noble State--"EXCELSIOR!"
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
From this reading PREFACE.
plural of “puzzle” — a particularly baffling problem that is said to have a correct solution
From this reading BOOK OF PUZZLES.
plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading EDITED BY ROBERT MERRY.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Our motto is that of our noble State--"EXCELSIOR!"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The innumerable readers of MERRY'S MUSEUM will here meet with many familiar faces, lighted up by pleasant smiles, and hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
Chapter 1 of Merry's Book of Puzzles by J. N. (John Newton) Stearns holds 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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 415 sentences of Merry's Book of Puzzles, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Merry's Book of Puzzles by J. N. (John Newton) Stearns exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 83 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 Merry's Book of Puzzles by J. N. (John Newton) Stearns on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4635 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #53847 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #53847, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 386 minutes of reading across 927 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Merry's Book of Puzzles section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 12 chapters of Merry's Book of Puzzles 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 Merry's Book of Puzzles, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
