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Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor
Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor is here in full — 395 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By T. S. (Timothy Shay) Arthur • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor
Context Illustration Reading 1/79 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A SHOCKING BAD MEMORY.
"MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.
"Yes, every thing, or commit perjury.
The oath you have taken is very comprehensive.
If you keep back as much as ten dollars, you will swear falsely."
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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.

Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor is here in full — 395 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/79 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A SHOCKING BAD MEMORY.
/ə ˈʃɑːkɪŋ bæd ˈmem.ər.i/
Line 2
"MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.
/mʌst aɪ ɡɪv ʌp ˈevəri θɪŋ æskt ˈmɪstər ˈhɑːrdi ʌv hɪz ˈlɔːjər wɪð huːm hiː wɑːz ˈhoʊldɪŋ ə ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃən æz tuː ðə moʊd ənd ˈmænər ʌv ˈɡetɪŋ klɪr ʌv ˈsɜːrtən riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪlətiz ɪn ðə ʃeɪp ʌv det/
Line 3
"Yes, every thing, or commit perjury.
/jes ˈevəri θɪŋ ɔːr kəˈmɪt ˈpɜːrdʒəri/
Line 4
The oath you have taken is very comprehensive.
/ðə oʊθ juː hæv ˈteɪkən ɪz ˈveri ˌkɑːmpriˈhensɪv/
Line 5
If you keep back as much as ten dollars, you will swear falsely."
/ɪf juː kiːp bæk æz mʌtʃ æz ten ˈdɑːlərz juː wɪl swer ˈfɔːlsli/

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.

commit verb US /kəˈmɪt/

perform an act, usually with a negative connotation

From this reading “"Yes, every thing, or commit perjury.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
comprehensive adjective US /ˌkɑːmpriˈhensɪv/

including all or everything

From this reading “The oath you have taken is very comprehensive.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
consultation noun US /ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃən/

a conference (usually with someone important)

From this reading “"MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
falsely adverb US /ˈfɔːlsli/

in an insincerely false manner

From this reading “If you keep back as much as ten dollars, you will swear falsely."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Hardy adjective US /ˈhɑːrdi/

having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships

From this reading “"MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
perjury noun US /ˈpɜːrdʒəri/

criminal offense of making false statements under oath

From this reading “"Yes, every thing, or commit perjury.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
responsibilities noun US /riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪlətiz/

plural of “responsibility” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading “"MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shocking adjective US /ˈʃɑːkɪŋ/

glaringly vivid and graphic; marked by sensationalism

From this reading “A SHOCKING BAD MEMORY.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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 A SHOCKING BAD MEMORY.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
askedverbUS /æskt/

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

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading If you keep back as much as ten dollars, you will swear falsely."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BADadjectiveUS /bæd/

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading A SHOCKING BAD MEMORY.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
clearverbUS /klɪr/

rid of obstructions

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
commitverbUS /kəˈmɪt/

perform an act, usually with a negative connotation

From this reading "Yes, every thing, or commit perjury.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
comprehensiveadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhensɪv/

including all or everything

From this reading The oath you have taken is very comprehensive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
consultationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃən/

a conference (usually with someone important)

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
debtnounUS /det/

the state of owing something (especially money)

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dollarsnounUS /ˈdɑːlərz/

plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents

From this reading If you keep back as much as ten dollars, you will swear falsely."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
falselyadverbUS /ˈfɔːlsli/

in an insincerely false manner

From this reading If you keep back as much as ten dollars, you will swear falsely."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gettingnounUS /ˈɡetɪŋ/

the act of acquiring something

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HardyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdi/

having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The oath you have taken is very comprehensive.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
holdingnounUS /ˈhoʊldɪŋ/

the act of retaining something

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If you keep back as much as ten dollars, you will swear falsely."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The oath you have taken is very comprehensive.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading If you keep back as much as ten dollars, you will swear falsely."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lawyernounUS /ˈlɔːjər/

a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mannernounUS /ˈmænər/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MEMORYnounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading A SHOCKING BAD MEMORY.

Velmora curated lexicon
modenounUS /moʊd/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading If you keep back as much as ten dollars, you will swear falsely."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MUSTmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
oathnounUS /oʊθ/

profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

From this reading The oath you have taken is very comprehensive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "Yes, every thing, or commit perjury.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
perjurynounUS /ˈpɜːrdʒəri/

criminal offense of making false statements under oath

From this reading "Yes, every thing, or commit perjury.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
responsibilitiesnounUS /riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪlətiz/

plural of “responsibility” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shapenounUS /ʃeɪp/

any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SHOCKINGadjectiveUS /ˈʃɑːkɪŋ/

glaringly vivid and graphic; marked by sensationalism

From this reading A SHOCKING BAD MEMORY.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
swearverbUS /swer/

utter obscenities or profanities

From this reading If you keep back as much as ten dollars, you will swear falsely."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading The oath you have taken is very comprehensive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading If you keep back as much as ten dollars, you will swear falsely."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading The oath you have taken is very comprehensive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading If you keep back as much as ten dollars, you will swear falsely."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "MUST I give up every thing?" asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading "Yes, every thing, or commit perjury.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The oath you have taken is very comprehensive.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 6 of Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor by T. S. (Timothy Shay) Arthur holds 395 sentences, grouped into 79 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 6 of Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor contain?

Chapter 6 holds 395 sentences of Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor, unabridged, divided into 79 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor by T. S. (Timothy Shay) Arthur exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 395 sentences, grouped into 79 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 6 of Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor?

Work through the 79 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 79 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 6 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 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.

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Yes. All 3171 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4624 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #4624, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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Vocabulary met early in Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor

Words and structures a reader meets early in Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Preface
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Reader
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cannot
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Smile
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Off-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with Humor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.