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My Literary Passions
My Literary Passions

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of My Literary Passions is here in full — 104 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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XXIV.
HEINE
That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.
I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.
It was a great temptation, and for a while I thought it the greatest piece of good fortune.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

My Literary Passions

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of My Literary Passions is here in full — 104 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
XXIV.
Line 2
HEINE
Line 3
That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.
/ðæt ˈwɪntər pæst ˈveri ˈkwɪkli ənd ˈhæpəli fɔːr miː ənd æt ðə end ʌv ðə ˈledʒəsleɪtɪv ˈseʃən aɪ hæd əˈkwɪtɪd ˌmaɪˈself soʊ mʌtʃ tuː ðə ˌsætəˈsfækʃən ʌv wʌn ʌv ðə ˈnuːzpeɪpərz wɪtʃ aɪ roʊt fɔːr ðæt aɪ wɑːz ˈɔːfərd ə pleɪs ɑːn ɪt/
Line 4
I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.
/aɪ wɑːz æskt tuː biː ˈsɪti ˈedətər æz ɪt wɑːz kɔːld ɪn ðæt deɪ ənd aɪ wɑːz tuː hæv tʃɑːrdʒ ʌv ðə ˈloʊkəl riˈpɔːrtɪŋ/
Line 5
It was a great temptation, and for a while I thought it the greatest piece of good fortune.
/ɪt wɑːz ə ɡreɪt temˈteɪʃən ənd fɔːr ə waɪl aɪ θɔːt ɪt ðə ˈɡreɪtəst piːs ʌv ɡʊd ˈfɔːrtʃən/

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.

acquitted adjective US /əˈkwɪtɪd/

declared not guilty of a specific offense or crime; legally blameless

From this reading “That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.”

editor noun US /ˈedətər/

a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)

From this reading “I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.”

legislative adjective US /ˈledʒəsleɪtɪv/

relating to a legislature or composed of members of a legislature

From this reading “That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.”

local adjective US /ˈloʊkəl/

relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area

From this reading “I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.”

newspapers noun US /ˈnuːzpeɪpərz/

plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements

From this reading “That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.”

reporting noun US /riˈpɔːrtɪŋ/

the news as presented by reporters for newspapers or radio or television

From this reading “I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.”

session noun US /ˈseʃən/

a meeting for execution of a group's functions

From this reading “That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.”

temptation noun US /temˈteɪʃən/

something that seduces or has the quality to seduce

From this reading “It was a great temptation, and for a while I thought it the greatest piece of good fortune.”

All words in this reading · 55

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 That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

acquittedadjectiveUS /əˈkwɪtɪd/

declared not guilty of a specific offense or crime; legally blameless

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.

chargeverbUS /tʃɑːrdʒ/

to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle

From this reading I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.

citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.

editornounUS /ˈedətər/

a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)

From this reading I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

fortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading It was a great temptation, and for a while I thought it the greatest piece of good fortune.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading It was a great temptation, and for a while I thought it the greatest piece of good fortune.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading It was a great temptation, and for a while I thought it the greatest piece of good fortune.

greatestadjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtəst/

highest in quality

From this reading It was a great temptation, and for a while I thought it the greatest piece of good fortune.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

happilyadverbUS /ˈhæpəli/

in a joyous manner

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.

HEINE

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

From this reading HEINE

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

legislativeadjectiveUS /ˈledʒəsleɪtɪv/

relating to a legislature or composed of members of a legislature

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

localadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkəl/

relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area

From this reading I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

newspapersnounUS /ˈnuːzpeɪpərz/

plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

offeredverbUS /ˈɔːfərd/

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

piecenounUS /piːs/

a separate part of a whole

From this reading It was a great temptation, and for a while I thought it the greatest piece of good fortune.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

quicklyadverbUS /ˈkwɪkli/

with speed

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

reportingnounUS /riˈpɔːrtɪŋ/

the news as presented by reporters for newspapers or radio or television

From this reading I was asked to be city editor, as it was called in that day, and I was to have charge of the local reporting.

satisfactionnounUS /ˌsætəˈsfækʃən/

the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

sessionnounUS /ˈseʃən/

a meeting for execution of a group's functions

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

temptationnounUS /temˈteɪʃən/

something that seduces or has the quality to seduce

From this reading It was a great temptation, and for a while I thought it the greatest piece of good fortune.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading It was a great temptation, and for a while I thought it the greatest piece of good fortune.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading It was a great temptation, and for a while I thought it the greatest piece of good fortune.

winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

wroteverbUS /roʊt/

inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work

From this reading That winter passed very quickly and happily for me, and at the end of the legislative session I had acquitted myself so much to the satisfaction of one of the newspapers which I wrote for that I was offered a place on it.

XXIVnoun

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-three and one

From this reading XXIV.

Chapter 10 of My Literary Passions by William Dean Howells holds 104 sentences, grouped into 21 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 10 of My Literary Passions contain?

Chapter 10 holds 104 sentences of My Literary Passions, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 10 of My Literary Passions by William Dean Howells exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 104 sentences, grouped into 21 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 10 of My Literary Passions?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 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.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 10 can be played aloud in United States English.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #3378, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 139 minutes of reading across 334 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in My Literary Passions

Words and structures a reader meets early in My Literary Passions, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Produced
A word that appears in the opening chapter of My Literary Passions; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
David
A word that appears in the opening chapter of My Literary Passions; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Widger
A word that appears in the opening chapter of My Literary Passions; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Literary
A word that appears in the opening chapter of My Literary Passions; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.