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Old Mortality, Complete
Old Mortality, Complete

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of Old Mortality, Complete is here in full — 143 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.
Prior.
The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.
No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.
The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Old Mortality, Complete

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of Old Mortality, Complete is here in full — 143 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.
/ðer ˈbrekfəst soʊ wɔːrm tuː biː ʃʊr ðeɪ dɪd iːt ə ˈkʌstəm ɪn ˈtrævələrz ˈmaɪti dɪˈskriːt/
Line 2
Prior.
/ˈpraɪər/
Line 3
The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.
Line 4
No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.
Line 5
The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

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.

appetites noun US /ˈæpətaɪts/

plural of “appetite” — a feeling of craving something

From this reading “The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.”

knightly adjective US /ˈnaɪtli/

characteristic of the time of chivalry and knighthood in the Middle Ages

From this reading “No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.”

mead noun US /miːd/

United States anthropologist noted for her claims about adolescence and sexual behavior in Polynesian cultures (1901-1978)

From this reading “No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.”

persevering adjective US /pərsəˈvɪrɪŋ/

quietly and steadily persevering especially in detail or exactness

From this reading “The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.”

piddling adjective US /ˈpɪdəlɪŋ/

(informal) small and of little importance

From this reading “The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.”

priestly adjective US /ˈpriːstli/

associated with the priesthood or priests

From this reading “No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.”

solidity noun US /səˈlɪdəti/

the consistency of a solid

From this reading “The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.”

venison noun US /ˈvenəsən/

meat from a deer used as food

From this reading “No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.”

All words in this reading · 99

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 Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

alenounUS /eɪl/

a general name for beer made with a top fermenting yeast; in some of the United States an ale is (by law) a brew of more than 4% alcohol by volume

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

appetitesnounUS /ˈæpətaɪts/

plural of “appetite” — a feeling of craving something

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

baronnounUS /ˈbærən/

a nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

beefnounUS /biːf/

cattle that are reared for their meat

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

Bellenden

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

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

boy's-play

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

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/

eat an early morning meal

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

brooknounUS /brʊk/

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

clawsnounUS /klɔːz/

plural of “claw” — sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

coffeenounUS /ˈkɑːfi/

a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

commonsnounUS /ˈkɑːmənz/

a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

comparisonnounUS /kəmˈperəsən/

the act of examining resemblances

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

correspondencenounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndəns/

communication by the exchange of letters

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

Covenanters

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

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

customnounUS /ˈkʌstəm/

accepted or habitual practice

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

dejune

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

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

descriptionsnounUS /dɪˈskrɪpʃənz/

plural of “description” — a statement that represents something in words

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

difficultynounUS /ˈdɪfəkəlti/

an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

discreetadjectiveUS /dɪˈskriːt/

marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

drawing-room

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

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

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 The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

eatverbUS /iːt/

take in solid food

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

exercisenounUS /ˈeksərsaɪz/

the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

flagons

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

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

generousadjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəs/

willing to give and share unstintingly

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

guestsnounUS /ɡests/

plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

hamnounUS /hæm/

meat cut from the thigh of a hog (usually smoked)

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

jawsnounUS /dʒɔːz/

plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

knightlyadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪtli/

characteristic of the time of chivalry and knighthood in the Middle Ages

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

learnedadjectiveUS /lɜːrnd/

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

magnificencenoun

splendid or imposing in size or appearance

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

mantledadjective

covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

Margaret

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

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

meadnounUS /miːd/

United States anthropologist noted for her claims about adolescence and sexual behavior in Polynesian cultures (1901-1978)

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

mightyadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪti/

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

modernadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdərn/

belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/

impressive in appearance

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/

occurring from time to time

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

pastyadjective

resembling paste in color; pallid

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

perseveringadjectiveUS /pərsəˈvɪrɪŋ/

quietly and steadily persevering especially in detail or exactness

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

piddlingadjectiveUS /ˈpɪdəlɪŋ/

(informal) small and of little importance

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

preparationnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/

the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

priestlyadjectiveUS /ˈpriːstli/

associated with the priesthood or priests

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

princelyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪnsli/

ostentatiously rich and superior in quality

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

PrioradjectiveUS /ˈpraɪər/

earlier in time

From this reading Prior.

qualitiesnounUS /ˈkwɑːlətiz/

plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

resembledverbUS /rɪˈzembəld/

past form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

rollsnounUS /roʊlz/

plural of “roll” — rotary motion of an object around its own axis

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

savedadjectiveUS /seɪvd/

rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

silvernounUS /ˈsɪlvər/

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

sirloinnoun

the portion of the loin (especially of beef) just in front of the rump

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/

characterized by good substantial quality

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

soliditynounUS /səˈlɪdəti/

the consistency of a solid

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

steadyverbUS /ˈstedi/

make steady

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

stone-hall

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

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

substantialadjectiveUS /səbˈstænʃəl/

of considerable importance, size, or worth

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

teanounUS /tiː/

a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

Tillietudlem

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

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

travellersnounUS /ˈtrævələrz/

plural of “traveller” — a person who changes location

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

varietynounUS /vərˈaɪəti/

a collection containing a variety of sorts of things

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

variousadjectiveUS /ˈveriəs/

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

venisonnounUS /ˈvenəsən/

meat from a deer used as food

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

viandsnoun

a stock or supply of foods

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

warmadjectiveUS /wɔːrm/

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading Their breakfast so warm to be sure they did eat, A custom in travellers mighty discreet.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The appetites of the guests were in correspondence to the magnificence and solidity of the preparation--no piddling--no boy’s-play, but that steady and persevering exercise of the jaws which is best learned by early morning hours, and by occasional hard commons.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

winenounUS /waɪn/

fermented juice (of grapes especially)

From this reading No tea, no coffee, no variety of rolls, but solid and substantial viands,--the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef, the princely venison pasty; while silver flagons, saved with difficulty from the claws of the Covenanters, now mantled, some with ale, some with mead, and some with generous wine of various qualities and descriptions.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The breakfast of Lady Margaret Bellenden no more resembled a modern _dejune_, than the great stone-hall at Tillietudlem could brook comparison with a modern drawing-room.

Chapter 11 of Old Mortality, Complete by Walter Scott holds 143 sentences, grouped into 29 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 11 of Old Mortality, Complete contain?

Chapter 11 holds 143 sentences of Old Mortality, Complete, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of Old Mortality, Complete by Walter Scott exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 143 sentences, grouped into 29 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 11 of Old Mortality, Complete?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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 11 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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 Old Mortality, Complete

Common questions about reading Old Mortality, Complete by Walter Scott on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Old Mortality, Complete?

Yes. All 5662 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6941 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Old Mortality, Complete is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #6941, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Old Mortality, Complete take to read?

About 471 minutes of reading across 1133 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Old Mortality, Complete section by section

How to work through Old Mortality, Complete section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Old Mortality, Complete

Words and structures a reader meets early in Old Mortality, Complete, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Preliminary
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Old Mortality, Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Seeks
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Old Mortality, Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Unwearied
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Old Mortality, Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Through
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Old Mortality, Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.