Chapter 1 of Old comrades is here in full — 170 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Old comrades is here in full — 170 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC. The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent. No answer came in words from the girl seated beyond the round table. She lowered the book in her hands, and waited. "Dorothea!"
Chapter 1 of Old comrades is here in full — 170 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
not being in a specified place
From this reading “The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.”
with affection
From this reading “The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.”
plural of “earl” — a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
From this reading “AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.”
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading “The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.”
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading “She lowered the book in her hands, and waited.”
possessive form of “speaker” — someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading “The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.”
-ing form of “verge” — border on; come close to
From this reading “The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.”
the basic unit of money in South Korea
From this reading “AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.”
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.
a meeting of peers for discussion and exchange of views
In this reading “No answer came in words from the girl seated beyond the round table.”
delay
In this reading “The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.”
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.
not being in a specified place
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
with affection
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
react verbally
From this reading No answer came in words from the girl seated beyond the round table.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading No answer came in words from the girl seated beyond the round table.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading She lowered the book in her hands, and waited.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading No answer came in words from the girl seated beyond the round table.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dorothea!"
plural of “earl” — a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading No answer came in words from the girl seated beyond the round table.
a young female
From this reading No answer came in words from the girl seated beyond the round table.
a throaty harshness
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading She lowered the book in her hands, and waited.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She lowered the book in her hands, and waited.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading No answer came in words from the girl seated beyond the round table.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
immediately past
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading She lowered the book in her hands, and waited.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
not any; not one
From this reading No answer came in words from the girl seated beyond the round table.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
above and across; more than
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading No answer came in words from the girl seated beyond the round table.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading No answer came in words from the girl seated beyond the round table.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She lowered the book in her hands, and waited.
possessive form of “speaker” — someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading No answer came in words from the girl seated beyond the round table.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.
-ing form of “verge” — border on; come close to
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading She lowered the book in her hands, and waited.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The voice was deep-toned, verging on gruffness, and it lingered over the name, not affectionately, but as if the speaker's mind were absent.
the basic unit of money in South Korea
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "IDA'S SECRET," "WON AT LAST," "THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE," ETC.
the words that are spoken
From this reading No answer came in words from the girl seated beyond the round table.
Chapter 1 of Old comrades by Agnes Giberne holds 170 sentences, grouped into 34 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.
Chapter 1 holds 170 sentences of Old comrades, unabridged, divided into 34 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Old comrades by Agnes Giberne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 170 sentences, grouped into 34 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.
Work through the 34 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 34 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.
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.
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Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Old comrades section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 0 chapters of Old comrades to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Old comrades, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
