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Nobody's boy (Sans famille)
Nobody's boy (Sans famille)

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Nobody's boy (Sans famille) is here in full — 7 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Nobody's boy (Sans famille)
Context Illustration Reading 1/1 · 7 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 7
"Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.
In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.
A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."
"Nobody's Boy" is a human document of child experiences that is fascinating reading for young and old.
Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.
Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.
Loyal friendship and honest conduct are the vital ideals of this story, and the heart interest is eloquent with noble character.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Nobody's boy (Sans famille)

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Nobody's boy (Sans famille) is here in full — 7 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/1 · 7 reading units · Lines 1–7

Line 1
"Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.
Line 2
In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.
/ɪn ðə mɪdst ʌv ɪts ˈɜːrli ˌpɑːpjəˈlerəti ɪt wɑːz kraʊnd baɪ ðə əˈkæd.ə.mi æz wʌn ʌv ðə ˈmæstərpiːsəz ʌv frentʃ ˈlɪtərətʃər/
Line 3
A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."
Line 4
"Nobody's Boy" is a human document of child experiences that is fascinating reading for young and old.
/ˈnoʊbɑːdiːz bɔɪ ɪz ə ˈhjuːmən ˈdɑːkjəment ʌv tʃaɪld ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz ðæt ɪz ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ ˈriːdɪŋ fɔːr jʌŋ ənd oʊld/
Line 5
Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.
Line 6
Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.
/sʌtʃ daɪˈɡreʃənz ɪn ðə ərˈɪdʒənəl æz duː nɑːt bɪˈlɔːŋ tuː ðə hɑːrt ʌv ðə ˈstɔːri hæv bɪn ɪˈlɪməneɪtɪd soʊ ðæt ðə lɔːst bɔɪz ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz kənˈtɪnjuː æz ðə ˌʌndɪˈstɜːrbd ˈɪntrəst ɑːn θruː tuː ðə ˈhæpi kənˈkluːʒən/
Line 7
Loyal friendship and honest conduct are the vital ideals of this story, and the heart interest is eloquent with noble character.
/ˈlɔɪəl ˈfrendʃɪp ənd ˈɑːnəst ˈkɑːndəkt ɑːr ðə ˈvaɪtəl aɪˈdiːlz ʌv ðɪs ˈstɔːri ənd ðə hɑːrt ˈɪntrəst ɪz ˈeləkwənt wɪð ˈnoʊbəl ˈkerɪktər/

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.

digressions noun US /daɪˈɡreʃənz/

plural of “digression” — a message that departs from the main subject

From this reading “Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.”

eliminated verb US /ɪˈlɪməneɪtɪd/

past form of “eliminate” — terminate, end, or take out

From this reading “Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.”

ideals noun US /aɪˈdiːlz/

plural of “ideal” — the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain

From this reading “Loyal friendship and honest conduct are the vital ideals of this story, and the heart interest is eloquent with noble character.”

inspiring adjective US /ˌɪnˈspaɪrɪŋ/

stimulating or exalting to the spirit

From this reading “Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.”

juvenile adjective US /ˈdʒuːvənəl/

of or relating to or characteristic of or appropriate for children or young people

From this reading “"Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.”

masterpieces noun US /ˈmæstərpiːsəz/

plural of “masterpiece” — the most outstanding work of a creative artist or craftsman

From this reading “In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.”

Nobody's noun US /ˈnoʊbɑːdiːz/

possessive form of “nobody” — a person of no influence

From this reading “"Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.”

popularity noun US /ˌpɑːpjəˈlerəti/

the quality of being widely admired or accepted or sought after

From this reading “In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.”

All words in this reading · 107

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 A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."

AcademynounUS /əˈkæd.ə.mi/

A place of study or training in a special field of knowledge and arts.

From this reading In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Nobody's Boy" is a human document of child experiences that is fascinating reading for young and old.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

belongverbUS /bɪˈlɔːŋ/

be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

BoynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/

possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.

carefuladjectiveUS /ˈkerfəl/

exercising caution or showing care or attention

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

characternounUS /ˈkerɪktər/

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading Loyal friendship and honest conduct are the vital ideals of this story, and the heart interest is eloquent with noble character.

childnounUS /tʃaɪld/

a young person of either sex

From this reading "Nobody's Boy" is a human document of child experiences that is fascinating reading for young and old.

childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

companionnounUS /kəmˈpænjən/

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."

conclusionnounUS /kənˈkluːʒən/

a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

conductverbUS /ˈkɑːndəkt/

direct the course of; manage or control

From this reading Loyal friendship and honest conduct are the vital ideals of this story, and the heart interest is eloquent with noble character.

continueverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuː/

continue a certain state, condition, or activity

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

crownedadjectiveUS /kraʊnd/

having an (artificial) crown on a tooth

From this reading In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.

digressionsnounUS /daɪˈɡreʃənz/

plural of “digression” — a message that departs from the main subject

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

documentnounUS /ˈdɑːkjəment/

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading "Nobody's Boy" is a human document of child experiences that is fascinating reading for young and old.

earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.

eliminatedverbUS /ɪˈlɪməneɪtɪd/

past form of “eliminate” — terminate, end, or take out

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

eloquentadjectiveUS /ˈeləkwənt/

expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively

From this reading Loyal friendship and honest conduct are the vital ideals of this story, and the heart interest is eloquent with noble character.

EnnounUS /en/

half the width of an em

From this reading A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."

experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/

plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities

From this reading "Nobody's Boy" is a human document of child experiences that is fascinating reading for young and old.

Famille

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

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

famousadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪməs/

widely known and esteemed

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

fascinatingadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ/

capable of arousing and holding the attention

From this reading "Nobody's Boy" is a human document of child experiences that is fascinating reading for young and old.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."

followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Nobody's Boy" is a human document of child experiences that is fascinating reading for young and old.

FrancenounUS /fræns/

a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

FrenchnounUS /frentʃ/

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.

friendshipnounUS /ˈfrendʃɪp/

the state of being friends (or friendly)

From this reading Loyal friendship and honest conduct are the vital ideals of this story, and the heart interest is eloquent with noble character.

GirlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."

happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

HectornounUS /ˈhektər/

(Greek mythology) a mythical Trojan who was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnəst/

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading Loyal friendship and honest conduct are the vital ideals of this story, and the heart interest is eloquent with noble character.

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading "Nobody's Boy" is a human document of child experiences that is fascinating reading for young and old.

idealsnounUS /aɪˈdiːlz/

plural of “ideal” — the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain

From this reading Loyal friendship and honest conduct are the vital ideals of this story, and the heart interest is eloquent with noble character.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

inspiringadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈspaɪrɪŋ/

stimulating or exalting to the spirit

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.

justlyadverbUS /ˈdʒʌstli/

with honesty

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

juvenileadjectiveUS /ˈdʒuːvənəl/

of or relating to or characteristic of or appropriate for children or young people

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."

literaturenounUS /ˈlɪtərətʃər/

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

LoyaladjectiveUS /ˈlɔɪəl/

steadfast in allegiance or duty

From this reading Loyal friendship and honest conduct are the vital ideals of this story, and the heart interest is eloquent with noble character.

Malot

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

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

masterpiecesnounUS /ˈmæstərpiːsəz/

plural of “masterpiece” — the most outstanding work of a creative artist or craftsman

From this reading In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.

midstnounUS /mɪdst/

the location of something surrounded by other things

From this reading In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.

nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/

impressive in appearance

From this reading Loyal friendship and honest conduct are the vital ideals of this story, and the heart interest is eloquent with noble character.

Nobody'snounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiːz/

possessive form of “nobody” — a person of no influence

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading "Nobody's Boy" is a human document of child experiences that is fascinating reading for young and old.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

originaladjectiveUS /ərˈɪdʒənəl/

preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

others

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

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

ParentsnounUS /ˈperənts/

plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

popularitynounUS /ˌpɑːpjəˈlerəti/

the quality of being widely admired or accepted or sought after

From this reading In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.

publishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

readingnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋ/

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading "Nobody's Boy" is a human document of child experiences that is fascinating reading for young and old.

recommendverbUS /ˌrekəˈmend/

push for something

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

Sans

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

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

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 "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

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 A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."

SuchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/

final or last in your life or progress

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

teachersnounUS /ˈtiːtʃərz/

plural of “teacher” — a person whose occupation is teaching

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Nobody's Boy" is a human document of child experiences that is fascinating reading for young and old.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

titlenounUS /ˈtaɪtəl/

a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

undisturbedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈstɜːrbd/

untroubled by interference or disturbance

From this reading Such digressions in the original, as do not belong to the heart of the story, have been eliminated, so that the lost boy's experiences continue as the undisturbed interest, on through to the happy conclusion.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."

vitaladjectiveUS /ˈvaɪtəl/

urgently needed; absolutely necessary

From this reading Loyal friendship and honest conduct are the vital ideals of this story, and the heart interest is eloquent with noble character.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In the midst of its early popularity, it was crowned by the Academy as one of the masterpieces of French literature.

welcomeverbUS /ˈwelkəm/

accept gladly

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Parents, teachers and others, who are careful to have children read inspiring books, will welcome this beautiful story of Hector Malot, as among the best for them to recommend.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Loyal friendship and honest conduct are the vital ideals of this story, and the heart interest is eloquent with noble character.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading "Nobody's Boy," published in France under the title "Sans Famille," has become justly famous as one of the supreme juvenile stories of the world.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading A few years later, it was followed by "En Famille," which is published by us as a companion story under the title "Nobody's Girl."

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading "Nobody's Boy" is a human document of child experiences that is fascinating reading for young and old.

Chapter 1 of Nobody's boy (Sans famille) by Hector Malot holds 7 sentences, grouped into 2 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 Nobody's boy (Sans famille) contain?

Chapter 1 holds 7 sentences of Nobody's boy (Sans famille), unabridged, divided into 2 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Nobody's boy (Sans famille) by Hector Malot exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 7 sentences, grouped into 2 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 Nobody's boy (Sans famille)?

Work through the 2 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 2 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 Nobody's boy (Sans famille)

Common questions about reading Nobody's boy (Sans famille) by Hector Malot on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Nobody's boy (Sans famille)?

Yes. All 6636 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #25102 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Nobody's boy (Sans famille) is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #25102, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Nobody's boy (Sans famille) take to read?

About 553 minutes of reading across 1328 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Nobody's boy (Sans famille) section by section

How to work through Nobody's boy (Sans famille) section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 34 chapters of Nobody's boy (Sans famille) 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 Nobody's boy (Sans famille)

Words and structures a reader meets early in Nobody's boy (Sans famille), each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Nobody's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Nobody's boy (Sans famille); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Published
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Nobody's boy (Sans famille); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
France
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Nobody's boy (Sans famille); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Under
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Nobody's boy (Sans famille); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.