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Mr. Punch's Book of Love
Mr. Punch's Book of Love

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Mr. Punch's Book of Love is here in full — 462 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Mr. Punch's Book of Love
Context Illustration Reading 1/92 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.
_Edwin (suddenly, after a long pause)._ "Darling!"
_Angelina._ "Yes, darling?"
_Edwin._ "Nothing, darling.
Only _darling_, darling!"
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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.

Mr. Punch's Book of Love

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Mr. Punch's Book of Love is here in full — 462 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/92 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.
Line 2
_Edwin (suddenly, after a long pause)._ "Darling!"
/ˈedwən ˈsʌdənli ˈæftər ə lɔːŋ pɔːz ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/
Line 3
_Angelina._ "Yes, darling?"
Line 4
_Edwin._ "Nothing, darling.
/ˈedwən ˈnʌθɪŋ ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/
Line 5
Only _darling_, darling!"
/ˈoʊnli ˈdɑːrlɪŋ ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/

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.

comic adjective US /ˈkɑːmɪk/

arousing or provoking laughter

From this reading “Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.”

contributed verb US /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪd/

past form of “contribute” — bestow a quality on

From this reading “Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.”

cream noun US /kriːm/

the best people or things in a group

From this reading “Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.”

Designed adjective US /dɪˈzaɪnd/

done or made or performed with purpose and intent

From this reading “Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.”

Edwin noun US /ˈedwən/

king of Northumbria who was converted to Christianity (585-633)

provide verb US /prəˈvaɪd/

give something useful or necessary to

From this reading “Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.”

Punch verb US /pʌntʃ/

deliver a quick blow to

From this reading “Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.”

wits noun US /wɪts/

the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception

From this reading “Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.”

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.

long pause adjective + noun

In this reading “_Edwin (suddenly, after a long pause)._ "Darling!"”

contributed by verb + particle counted as “contribute by”

In this reading “Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.”

present day verb + noun

In this reading “Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.”

All words in this reading · 42

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.

1841

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

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading _Edwin (suddenly, after a long pause)._ "Darling!"

agenounUS /eɪdʒ/

how long something has existed

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

Angelina

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

From this reading _Angelina._ "Yes, darling?"

beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

comicadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmɪk/

arousing or provoking laughter

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

completeverbUS /kəmˈpliːt/

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

contributedverbUS /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪd/

past form of “contribute” — bestow a quality on

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

creamnounUS /kriːm/

the best people or things in a group

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

DarlingnounUS /ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/

a special loved one

From this reading _Edwin (suddenly, after a long pause)._ "Darling!"

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

DesignedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪnd/

done or made or performed with purpose and intent

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

draughtsmanship

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

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

EdwinnounUS /ˈedwən/

king of Northumbria who was converted to Christianity (585-633)

From this reading _Edwin (suddenly, after a long pause)._ "Darling!"

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

humournounUS /ˈhjuːmər/

a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

leadingadjectiveUS /ˈliːdɪŋ/

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading _Edwin (suddenly, after a long pause)._ "Darling!"

mastersnounUS /ˈmæstərz/

United States poet (1869-1950)

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

nationaladjectiveUS /ˈnæʃənəl/

of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading _Edwin._ "Nothing, darling.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

OnlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Only _darling_, darling!"

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

pausenounUS /pɔːz/

a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

From this reading _Edwin (suddenly, after a long pause)._ "Darling!"

presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

provideverbUS /prəˈvaɪd/

give something useful or necessary to

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

PunchverbUS /pʌntʃ/

deliver a quick blow to

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

seriesnounUS /ˈsɪriz/

similar things placed in order or happening one after another

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/

happening unexpectedly

From this reading _Edwin (suddenly, after a long pause)._ "Darling!"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

volumesnounUS /ˈvɑːljuːmz/

plural of “volume” — the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

witsnounUS /wɪts/

the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception

From this reading Designed to provide in a series of volumes, each complete in itself, the cream of our national humour, contributed by the masters of comic draughtsmanship and the leading wits of the age to "Punch," from its beginning in 1841 to the present day.

YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading _Angelina._ "Yes, darling?"

Chapter 1 of Mr. Punch's Book of Love by J. A. (John Alexander) [Editor] Hammerton holds 462 sentences, grouped into 93 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 1 of Mr. Punch's Book of Love contain?

Chapter 1 holds 462 sentences of Mr. Punch's Book of Love, unabridged, divided into 93 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Mr. Punch's Book of Love by J. A. (John Alexander) [Editor] Hammerton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 462 sentences, grouped into 93 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 1 of Mr. Punch's Book of Love?

Work through the 93 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 93 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 1 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading Mr. Punch's Book of Love

Common questions about reading Mr. Punch's Book of Love by J. A. (John Alexander) [Editor] Hammerton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Mr. Punch's Book of Love?

Yes. All 893 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #42400 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Mr. Punch's Book of Love is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #42400, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Mr. Punch's Book of Love take to read?

About 74 minutes of reading across 179 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Mr. Punch's Book of Love section by section

How to work through Mr. Punch's Book of Love section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 2 chapters of Mr. Punch's Book of Love 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 Mr. Punch's Book of Love

Words and structures a reader meets early in Mr. Punch's Book of Love, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Designed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mr. Punch's Book of Love; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Provide
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mr. Punch's Book of Love; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Series
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mr. Punch's Book of Love; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Volumes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mr. Punch's Book of Love; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.