Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Oliver Goldsmith is here in full — 136 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Oliver Goldsmith
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
OLIVER GOLDSMITH.
(From the painting by Reynolds.)]
Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.
To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.
E. S. L. B.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Oliver Goldsmith

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Oliver Goldsmith is here in full — 136 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
OLIVER GOLDSMITH.
/ˈɑːləvər ˈɡoʊldsmɪθ/
Line 2
(From the painting by Reynolds.)]
/frʌm ðə ˈpeɪntɪŋ baɪ ˈrenəldz/
Line 3
Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.
Line 4
To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.
Line 5
E. S. L. B.
/iː es el biː/

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.

Bell's noun US /belz/

possessive form of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading “Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.”

biography noun US /baɪˈɑːɡrəfi/

an account of the series of events making up a person's life

From this reading “Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.”

compilation noun US /ˌkɑːmpəˈleɪʃən/

something that is compiled (as into a single book or file)

From this reading “Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.”

courageous adjective US /kərˈeɪdʒəs/

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading “Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.”

goldsmith noun US /ˈɡoʊldsmɪθ/

an artisan who makes jewelry and other objects out of gold

From this reading “OLIVER GOLDSMITH.”

indebtedness noun US /ˌɪnˈdetɪdnɪs/

an obligation to pay money to another party

From this reading “Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.”

industrious adjective US /ˌɪnˈdʌstriəs/

characterized by hard work and perseverance

From this reading “Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.”

Reynolds noun US /ˈrenəldz/

English portrait painter and first president of the Royal Academy (1723-1792)

From this reading “(From the painting by Reynolds.)]”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

at once preposition + adverb

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

In this reading “To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.”

most courageous adverb + adjective

In this reading “Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.”

proper sense adjective + noun

In this reading “To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.”

Great Writers adjective + noun counted as “great writer”

In this reading “Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.”

other writers adjective + noun counted as “other writer”

In this reading “To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.”

little book adjective + noun

In this reading “To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

acknowledgeverbUS /ækˈnɑːlɪdʒ/

declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

admitverbUS /ədˈmɪt/

declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

BnounUS /biː/

aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil

From this reading E. S. L. B.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

Bell'snounUS /belz/

possessive form of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

biographynounUS /baɪˈɑːɡrəfi/

an account of the series of events making up a person's life

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading (From the painting by Reynolds.)]

compilationnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈleɪʃən/

something that is compiled (as into a single book or file)

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

courageousadjectiveUS /kərˈeɪdʒəs/

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

dueadjectiveUS /duː/

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

EnounUS /iː/

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

From this reading E. S. L. B.

errorsnounUS /ˈerərz/

plural of “error” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/

give expression to

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

Forster

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

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading (From the painting by Reynolds.)]

GOLDSMITHnounUS /ˈɡoʊldsmɪθ/

an artisan who makes jewelry and other objects out of gold

From this reading OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

gratefuladjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtfəl/

feeling or showing gratitude

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

GreatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

indebtednessnounUS /ˌɪnˈdetɪdnɪs/

an obligation to pay money to another party

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

industriousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdʌstriəs/

characterized by hard work and perseverance

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

LnounUS /el/

a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)

From this reading E. S. L. B.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

meritsnounUS /ˈmerəts/

plural of “merit” — any admirable quality or attribute

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

MiniaturenounUS /ˈmɪniətʃʊr/

painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

obligationnounUS /ˌɑːbləˈɡeɪʃən/

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

OLIVERnounUS /ˈɑːləvər/

United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)

From this reading OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

others

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

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

paintingnounUS /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/

graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface

From this reading (From the painting by Reynolds.)]

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

preserveverbUS /prəˈzɜːrv/

keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

profoundlyadverbUS /proʊˈfaʊndli/

to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

properadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːpər/

marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

readersnounUS /ˈriːdərz/

plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

ReynoldsnounUS /ˈrenəldz/

English portrait painter and first president of the Royal Academy (1723-1792)

From this reading (From the painting by Reynolds.)]

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

SnounUS /es/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading E. S. L. B.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

sensenounUS /sens/

a general conscious awareness

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

SeriesnounUS /ˈsɪriz/

similar things placed in order or happening one after another

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

studentsnounUS /ˈstuːdənts/

plural of “student” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

sympatheticadjectiveUS /ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk/

of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

thanksnounUS /θæŋks/

an acknowledgment of appreciation

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading (From the painting by Reynolds.)]

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

volumenounUS /ˈvɑːljuːm/

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

whompronounUS /huːm/

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

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading To several other writers I must also express my thanks, and to save the time of my kind readers and to preserve a proper sense of obligation, it would perhaps be best to admit at once that if this little book has any merits, they are due to others, while its errors are all my own.

WritersnounUS /ˈraɪtərz/

plural of “writer” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Bell's Miniature Series of Great Writers It is only right to acknowledge my indebtedness in the compilation of this volume to John Forster, to whom as one of the most courageous, industrious, and sympathetic of the writers of biography, all students of Goldsmith must be profoundly grateful.

Chapter 1 of Oliver Goldsmith by E. S. Lang (Ernest Segar Lang), -1916 Buckland holds 136 sentences, grouped into 28 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 Oliver Goldsmith contain?

Chapter 1 holds 136 sentences of Oliver Goldsmith, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Oliver Goldsmith by E. S. Lang (Ernest Segar Lang), -1916 Buckland exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 136 sentences, grouped into 28 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 Oliver Goldsmith?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 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 Oliver Goldsmith

Common questions about reading Oliver Goldsmith by E. S. Lang (Ernest Segar Lang), -1916 Buckland on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Oliver Goldsmith?

Yes. All 987 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #31462 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Oliver Goldsmith is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #31462, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Oliver Goldsmith take to read?

About 82 minutes of reading across 198 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Oliver Goldsmith section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 9 chapters of Oliver Goldsmith 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 Oliver Goldsmith

Words and structures a reader meets early in Oliver Goldsmith, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Oliver
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oliver Goldsmith; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Goldsmith
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oliver Goldsmith; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Painting
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oliver Goldsmith; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Reynolds
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oliver Goldsmith; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.