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On the Road With a Circus
On the Road With a Circus

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of On the Road With a Circus is here in full — 243 sentences across 49 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for On the Road With a Circus
Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.
You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.
We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.
Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.
We will watch the master mind of the circus and his associates in counsel and action.
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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.

On the Road With a Circus

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of On the Road With a Circus is here in full — 243 sentences across 49 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.
/ɑːn ðə roʊd wɪð ə ˈsɜːrkəs ɑːn ðə roʊd wɪð ə ˈsɜːrkəs ðə ˈfeɪθfəl rəˈkɔːrdɪŋ ʌv ˈdeɪli laɪf wɪð wʌn ʌv ðə bɪɡ ʃoʊz ˈwɑːndərɪŋ wɪð ɪt ˈʌndər ɔːl vɪˈsɪsɪtuːdz ˈfɔːrtʃənət ɔːr ædˈvɜːrs ɪz ðə ˈerənd ɑːn wɪtʃ ðɪs bʊk ɪz sent/
Line 2
You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.
Line 3
We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.
/wiː wɪl ˈskruːtənaɪz ðə ˈentrəns ʌv ˈstreɪndʒərz ˈɪntuː streɪndʒ lændz ənd əbˈzɜːrv ðə ˈraɪzɪŋ ənd ɪkˈspænʃən ʌv ðə tents æz æn ˈɑːrmi ʌv men stæmp ðer ˈɪmədʒ əˈpɑːn ðə ɜːrθ/
Line 4
Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.
Line 5
We will watch the master mind of the circus and his associates in counsel and action.
/wiː wɪl wɑːtʃ ðə ˈmæstər maɪnd ʌv ðə ˈsɜːrkəs ənd hɪz əˈsoʊsiəts ɪn ˈkaʊnsəl ənd ˈækʃən/

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.

adverse adjective US /ædˈvɜːrs/

contrary to your interests or welfare

From this reading “On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.”

distraction noun US /dɪˈstrækʃən/

mental turmoil

From this reading “You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.”

expansion noun US /ɪkˈspænʃən/

the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope

From this reading “We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.”

pageant noun US /ˈpædʒənt/

an elaborate representation of scenes from history etc; usually involves a parade with rich costumes

From this reading “Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.”

recording noun US /rəˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

a signal that encodes something (e.g., picture or sound) that has been recorded

From this reading “On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.”

scrutinize verb US /ˈskruːtənaɪz/

to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail

From this reading “We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.”

startle verb US /ˈstɑːrtəl/

to stimulate to action

From this reading “You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.”

vicissitudes noun US /vɪˈsɪsɪtuːdz/

plural of “vicissitude” — a variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the development of something

From this reading “On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.”

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.

winter quarters noun + noun

In this reading “You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.”

summer season noun + noun

In this reading “You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.”

daily life noun + noun

In this reading “On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.”

strange lands adjective + noun counted as “strange land”

In this reading “We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.”

strange sounds adjective + noun counted as “strange sound”

In this reading “Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.”

country seat noun + noun

In this reading “You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.”

On the Road preposition + article + noun counted as “on … road”

travelling about

In this reading “On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.”

upon the earth preposition + article + noun counted as “upon … earth”

In this reading “We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.”

All words in this reading · 107

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

actionnounUS /ˈækʃən/

something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading We will watch the master mind of the circus and his associates in counsel and action.

adverseadjectiveUS /ædˈvɜːrs/

contrary to your interests or welfare

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

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 On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

armynounUS /ˈɑːrmi/

a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

associatesnounUS /əˈsoʊsiəts/

plural of “associate” — a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor

From this reading We will watch the master mind of the circus and his associates in counsel and action.

astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

booknounUS /bʊk/

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

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

breakingnounUS /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/

the act of breaking something

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

CircusnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəs/

a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

congenialadjectiveUS /kənˈdʒiːnjəl/

suitable to your needs

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

counselnounUS /ˈkaʊnsəl/

a lawyer who pleads cases in court

From this reading We will watch the master mind of the circus and his associates in counsel and action.

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

dailyadverbUS /ˈdeɪli/

every day; without missing a day

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

departurenounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/

the act of departing

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

distractionnounUS /dɪˈstrækʃən/

mental turmoil

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

encampmentnounUS /ɪnˈkæmpmɪnt/

a site where people on holiday can pitch a tent

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

entrancenounUS /ˈentrəns/

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

entrancingadjective

capturing interest as if by a spell

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

errandnounUS /ˈerənd/

a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

expansionnounUS /ɪkˈspænʃən/

the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

eyenounUS /aɪ/

the organ of sight

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

faithfuladjectiveUS /ˈfeɪθfəl/

steadfast in affection or allegiance

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

familiarlyadverb

in an intimately familiar manner

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

fortunateadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənət/

having unexpected good fortune

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

freelyadverbUS /ˈfriːli/

in a free manner

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

gazenounUS /ɡeɪz/

a long fixed look

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

gorgeousadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːrdʒəs/

dazzlingly beautiful

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

groundsnounUS /ɡraʊndz/

your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading We will watch the master mind of the circus and his associates in counsel and action.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

imagenounUS /ˈɪmədʒ/

an iconic mental representation

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading We will watch the master mind of the circus and his associates in counsel and action.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

landsnounUS /lændz/

plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

masternounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading We will watch the master mind of the circus and his associates in counsel and action.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading We will watch the master mind of the circus and his associates in counsel and action.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

observeverbUS /əbˈzɜːrv/

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/

financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

pageantnounUS /ˈpædʒənt/

an elaborate representation of scenes from history etc; usually involves a parade with rich costumes

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

paradenounUS /pərˈeɪd/

a ceremonial procession including people marching

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

peernounUS /pɪr/

a person who is of equal standing with another in a group

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

quartersnounUS /ˈkwɔːrtərz/

housing available for people to live in

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

recordingnounUS /rəˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

a signal that encodes something (e.g., picture or sound) that has been recorded

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

retirementnounUS /riˈtaɪərmənt/

the state of being retired from one's business or occupation

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

returningadjectiveUS /rɪˈtɜːrnɪŋ/

tending to return to an earlier state

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

risingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪzɪŋ/

advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

RoadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

scenesnounUS /siːnz/

plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

scrutinizeverbUS /ˈskruːtənaɪz/

to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

seasonnounUS /ˈsiːzən/

a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

seatnounUS /siːt/

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

showsnounUS /ʃoʊz/

plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

sightsnounUS /saɪts/

an optical instrument for aiding the eye in aiming, as on a firearm or surveying instrument

From this reading Our astonished eye will gaze upon the gorgeous pageant of the parade and returning to the grounds will peer freely and familiarly about the place of strange sounds and entrancing sights.

soundsnounUS /saʊndz/

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

stampverbUS /stæmp/

walk heavily

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

startleverbUS /ˈstɑːrtəl/

to stimulate to action

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

stealthyadjectiveUS /ˈstelθi/

marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

strangersnounUS /ˈstreɪndʒərz/

plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

surveynounUS /sərˈveɪ/

a detailed critical inspection

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

tentsnounUS /tents/

plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

travelverbUS /ˈtrævəl/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

tumultnounUS /ˈtuːməlt/

a state of commotion and noise and confusion

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

unwontedadjective

unaccustomed or unusual

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

vicissitudesnounUS /vɪˈsɪsɪtuːdz/

plural of “vicissitude” — a variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the development of something

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

wanderingadjectiveUS /ˈwɑːndərɪŋ/

migratory

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

watchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/

look attentively

From this reading We will watch the master mind of the circus and his associates in counsel and action.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We will scrutinize the entrance of strangers into strange lands and observe the rising and expansion of the tents as an army of men stamp their image upon the earth.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading On the Road With a Circus _On the Road With a Circus._ The faithful recording of daily life with one of the “big shows,” wandering with it under all vicissitudes, fortunate or adverse, is the errand on which this book is sent.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You and I will travel from the distraction and tumult of the summer season to the congenial quiet of winter quarters, and survey operations from the hour when new and unwonted scenes and sounds startle city quiet or country seat retirement until the stealthy breaking of the white encampment and the departure from town.

Chapter 1 of On the Road With a Circus by William Carter Thompson holds 243 sentences, grouped into 49 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 On the Road With a Circus contain?

Chapter 1 holds 243 sentences of On the Road With a Circus, unabridged, divided into 49 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of On the Road With a Circus by William Carter Thompson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 243 sentences, grouped into 49 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 On the Road With a Circus?

Work through the 49 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 49 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 On the Road With a Circus

Common questions about reading On the Road With a Circus by William Carter Thompson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of On the Road With a Circus?

Yes. All 2870 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #62113 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of On the Road With a Circus is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #62113, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does On the Road With a Circus take to read?

About 239 minutes of reading across 574 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read On the Road With a Circus section by section

How to work through On the Road With a Circus section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of On the Road With a Circus 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 On the Road With a Circus

Words and structures a reader meets early in On the Road With a Circus, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Circus
A word that appears in the opening chapter of On the Road With a Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Faithful
A word that appears in the opening chapter of On the Road With a Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Recording
A word that appears in the opening chapter of On the Road With a Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Daily
A word that appears in the opening chapter of On the Road With a Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.