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Modern Street Ballads
Modern Street Ballads

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of Modern Street Ballads is here in full — 348 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Modern Street Ballads
Context Illustration Reading 1/69 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
What was I to do? egad!
I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.
Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.
_ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”
Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.
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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.

Modern Street Ballads

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of Modern Street Ballads is here in full — 348 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/69 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
What was I to do? egad!
Line 2
I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.
Line 3
Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.
Line 4
_ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”
Line 5
Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.
/ˈveri ɡrænd ˈpɑːrtiz hiː ɡeɪv æt wɪtʃ ɪn ʃæmˈpeɪn juː maɪt draʊn naʊ hiː kʌt sʌtʃ ə dæʃ ɔːl ðə striːt wɑːz ˈdʒeləs ʌv ˈdʒentəlmən braʊn/

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.

astonish verb US /əˈstɑːnɪʃ/

affect with wonder

From this reading “_ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.””

browns noun US /braʊnz/

plural of “brown” — an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading “_ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.””

drown verb US /draʊn/

cover completely or make imperceptible

From this reading “Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.”

hooted verb US /ˈhuːtɪd/

past form of “hoot” — to utter a loud clamorous shout

From this reading “Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.”

hubble noun US /ˈhʌbəl/

United States astronomer who discovered that (as the universe expands) the speed with which nebulae recede increases with their distance from the observer (1889-1953)

From this reading “Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.”

jeers noun US /dʒiːrz/

plural of “jeer” — showing your contempt by derision

From this reading “Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.”

recruited verb US /rɪˈkruːtɪd/

past form of “recruit” — register formally as a participant or member

From this reading “Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.”

Shocking adjective US /ˈʃɑːkɪŋ/

glaringly vivid and graphic; marked by sensationalism

From this reading “Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.”

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

get away verb + particle

run away from confinement

In this reading “I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.”

respectable man adjective + noun

In this reading “_ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.””

All words in this reading · 103

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

ASTONISHverbUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃ/

affect with wonder

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

Blow'd

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

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

BrownnounUS /braʊn/

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

BROWNSnounUS /braʊnz/

plural of “brown” — an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

call'd

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

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

carenounUS /ker/

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

champagnenounUS /ʃæmˈpeɪn/

a white sparkling wine either produced in Champagne or resembling that produced there

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

compell'd

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

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

cutverbUS /kʌt/

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

dashverbUS /dæʃ/

run or move very quickly or hastily

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/

a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading What was I to do? egad!

doubleverbUS /ˈdʌbəl/

increase twofold

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

drankverbUS /dræŋk/

inflected form of “drink” — take in liquids

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

drownverbUS /draʊn/

cover completely or make imperceptible

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

egad

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

From this reading What was I to do? egad!

Ev'ry

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

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/

more quickly

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

GentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/

a man of refinement

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

glassnounUS /ɡlæs/

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

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

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

grandadjectiveUS /ɡrænd/

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

halloo'd

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

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

hootedverbUS /ˈhuːtɪd/

past form of “hoot” — to utter a loud clamorous shout

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

hubblenounUS /ˈhʌbəl/

United States astronomer who discovered that (as the universe expands) the speed with which nebulae recede increases with their distance from the observer (1889-1953)

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading What was I to do? egad!

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

jealousadjectiveUS /ˈdʒeləs/

showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

jeersnounUS /dʒiːrz/

plural of “jeer” — showing your contempt by derision

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

laugh'd

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

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

liquornounUS /ˈlɪkər/

an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

liv'd

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

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

maybeadverbUS /ˈmeɪbi/

by chance

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

mis'ry

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

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

MobnounUS /mɑːb/

a disorderly crowd of people

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

neighboursnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/

plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

partiesnounUS /ˈpɑːrtiz/

plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

payverbUS /peɪ/

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

recruitedverbUS /rɪˈkruːtɪd/

past form of “recruit” — register formally as a participant or member

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

respectableadjectiveUS /rɪˈspektəbəl/

characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

safeadjectiveUS /seɪf/

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

salutedverbUS /səˈluːtɪd/

past form of “salute” — propose a toast to

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

ShockingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɑːkɪŋ/

glaringly vivid and graphic; marked by sensationalism

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

stepnounUS /step/

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

streetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

streetsnounUS /striːts/

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

stuckadjectiveUS /stʌk/

caught or fixed

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

SundaynounUS /ˈsʌndeɪ/

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

swallow'd

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

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

THEREadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

Thro

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

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

tightadjectiveUS /taɪt/

closely constrained or constricted or constricting

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading What was I to do? egad!

TookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

troublenounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/

a source of difficulty

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

VeryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading What was I to do? egad!

waxverbUS /wæks/

cover with wax

From this reading I could not get away, She stuck to me as tight as wax, and liquor drank the faster; And every glass she swallow’d down, she call’d on me to pay, And then compell’d to see her home, safe out of her disaster.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What was I to do? egad!

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Thro’ the streets by jeers saluted, Mob at every step recruited, While they halloo’d, laugh’d, and hooted, Shocking! for a Sunday; Ev’ry step made mis’ry double, Took her home through every hubble, And got, for all my care and trouble, Blow’d up by Mr. Monday.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading _ALL TO ASTONISH THE BROWNS._ THERE liv’d, and maybe living still, In one of the streets of the town, A respectable man who was call’d By the neighbours, “Gentleman Brown.”

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Very grand parties he gave, At which in champagne, you might drown, Now he cut such a dash, all the street, Was jealous of Gentleman Brown.

Chapter 3 of Modern Street Ballads by John [Compiler] Ashton holds 348 sentences, grouped into 70 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 3 of Modern Street Ballads contain?

Chapter 3 holds 348 sentences of Modern Street Ballads, unabridged, divided into 70 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Modern Street Ballads by John [Compiler] Ashton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 348 sentences, grouped into 70 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 3 of Modern Street Ballads?

Work through the 70 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 70 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.

Can chapter 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Modern Street Ballads

Common questions about reading Modern Street Ballads by John [Compiler] Ashton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Modern Street Ballads?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Modern Street Ballads is used?

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

How long does Modern Street Ballads take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Modern Street Ballads section by section

How to work through Modern Street Ballads section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of Modern Street Ballads to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Modern Street Ballads

Words and structures a reader meets early in Modern Street Ballads, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of Modern Street Ballads, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of Modern Street Ballads, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.