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Nearly Bedtime
Nearly Bedtime

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Nearly Bedtime is here in full — 737 sentences across 148 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Nearly Bedtime
Context Illustration Reading 1/147 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
NEARLY BEDTIME.
_FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.
PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.
LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.
NEW YORK: E.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Nearly Bedtime

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Nearly Bedtime is here in full — 737 sentences across 148 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/147 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
NEARLY BEDTIME.
/ˈnɪrli ˈbedtaɪm/
Line 2
_FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.
Line 3
PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.
/ˈpʌblɪʃt ˈʌndər ðə dərˈekʃən ʌv ðə kəˈmɪti ʌv ˈdʒenərəl ˈlɪtərətʃər ənd ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃən əˈpɔɪntɪd baɪ ðə səˈsaɪəti fɔːr prəˈmoʊtɪŋ ˈkrɪstʃən ˈnɑːlədʒ/
Line 4
LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.
Line 5
NEW YORK: E.
/nuː jɔːrk iː/

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.

appointed adjective US /əˈpɔɪntɪd/

subject to appointment

From this reading “PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.”

avenue noun US /ˈævənuː/

a line of approach

From this reading “LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.”

bedtime noun US /ˈbedtaɪm/

the time you go to bed

From this reading “NEARLY BEDTIME.”

brighton noun US /ˈbraɪtən/

a city in East Sussex in southern England that is a popular resort; site of the University of Sussex

From this reading “LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.”

committee noun US /kəˈmɪti/

a special group delegated to consider some matter

From this reading “PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.”

literature noun US /ˈlɪtərətʃər/

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading “PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.”

promoting verb US /prəˈmoʊtɪŋ/

-ing form of “promote” — contribute to the progress or growth of

From this reading “PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.”

victoria noun US /vɪkˈtɔːriə/

queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)

From this reading “LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.”

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.

SHORT STORIES adjective + noun counted as “short story”

a prose narrative shorter than a novel

In this reading “_FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.”

GENERAL LITERATURE adjective + noun

In this reading “PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.”

UNDER THE DIRECTION preposition + article + noun counted as “under … direction”

In this reading “PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.”

All words in this reading · 44

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.

135

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

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

43

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

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

APPOINTEDadjectiveUS /əˈpɔɪntɪd/

subject to appointment

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading _FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.

AVENUEnounUS /ˈævənuː/

a line of approach

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

BEDTIMEnounUS /ˈbedtaɪm/

the time you go to bed

From this reading NEARLY BEDTIME.

BRIGHTONnounUS /ˈbraɪtən/

a city in East Sussex in southern England that is a popular resort; site of the University of Sussex

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

CnounUS /siː/

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

CHARING

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

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

CHRISTIANadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪstʃən/

relating to or characteristic of Christianity

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

COMMITTEEnounUS /kəˈmɪti/

a special group delegated to consider some matter

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

CRIP

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

From this reading _FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.

CROSSverbUS /krɔːs/

travel across or pass over

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

DIRECTIONnounUS /dərˈekʃən/

a line leading to a place or point

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

EnounUS /iː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

EDUCATIONnounUS /ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃən/

the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

ETC

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

From this reading _FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.

FIVEnounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading _FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.

FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.

GENERALadjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

KNOWLEDGEnounUS /ˈnɑːlədʒ/

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

LITERATUREnounUS /ˈlɪtərətʃər/

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

LITTLEadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading _FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.

LONDONnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

NEARLYadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading NEARLY BEDTIME.

NEWadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading NEW YORK: E.

NORTHnounUS /nɔːrθ/

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

NORTHUMBERLANDnoun

the northernmost county of England; has many Roman remains (including Hadrian's Wall)

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.

ONESnounUS /wʌnz/

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading _FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.

PROMOTINGverbUS /prəˈmoʊtɪŋ/

-ing form of “promote” — contribute to the progress or growth of

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

PUBLISHEDadjectiveUS /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

QUEENnounUS /kwiːn/

the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

SHORTadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading _FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.

SOCIETYnounUS /səˈsaɪəti/

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

STORIESnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading _FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.

STREETnounUS /striːt/

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

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _FIVE SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES._ AUTHOR OF "CRIP," ETC.

UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

VICTORIAnounUS /vɪkˈtɔːriə/

queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

WnounUS /ˈdʌbəljuː/

a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite

From this reading LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, CHARING CROSS, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 135, NORTH STREET.

YORKnounUS /jɔːrk/

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading NEW YORK: E.

Chapter 1 of Nearly Bedtime by H. Mary Wilson holds 737 sentences, grouped into 148 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 Nearly Bedtime contain?

Chapter 1 holds 737 sentences of Nearly Bedtime, unabridged, divided into 148 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Nearly Bedtime by H. Mary Wilson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 737 sentences, grouped into 148 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 Nearly Bedtime?

Work through the 148 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 148 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 Nearly Bedtime

Common questions about reading Nearly Bedtime by H. Mary Wilson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Nearly Bedtime?

Yes. All 737 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #36293 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Nearly Bedtime is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #36293, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Nearly Bedtime take to read?

About 61 minutes of reading across 148 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Nearly Bedtime section by section

How to work through Nearly Bedtime section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of Nearly Bedtime 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 Nearly Bedtime

Words and structures a reader meets early in Nearly Bedtime, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Nearly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Nearly Bedtime; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bedtime
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Nearly Bedtime; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Short
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Nearly Bedtime; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stories
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Nearly Bedtime; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.