Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches
Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches is here in full — 425 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.
Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.
In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.
There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.
Thus the terrible prohibition to remove the stone was accounted for.
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.

Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches is here in full — 425 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.
/aɪ hæd hɜːrd lɔːŋ əˈɡoʊ ðæt ʃiː bɪˈliːvd ðæt ðə məˈtɪriəl ˈevədənsəz ʌv hɜːr ˈdɑːɡmə æz tuː ðə ˈɔːθərʃɪp təˈɡeðər wɪð ðə kiː ʌv ðə nuː fɪˈlɑː.sə.fi wʊd biː faʊnd ˈberid ɪn ˈʃeɪkspiːrz ɡreɪv/
Line 2
Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.
/ˈriːsəntli æz aɪ ˌʌndərˈstʊd hɜːr ðɪs ˈnoʊʃən hæd bɪn ˈsʌmˈwʌt ˈmɑːdəfaɪd ənd wɑːz naʊ ˈækjərətli dɪˈfaɪnd ənd ˈfʊli dɪˈveləpt ɪn hɜːr maɪnd wɪð ə rɪˈzʌlt ʌv pərˈfekt ˈsɜːrtənti/
Line 3
In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.
Line 4
There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.
Line 5
Thus the terrible prohibition to remove the stone was accounted for.
/ðʌs ðə ˈterəbəl ˌproʊəˈbɪʃən tuː riˈmuːv ðə stoʊn wɑːz əˈkaʊntɪd fɔːr/

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.

authorship noun US /ˈɔːθərʃɪp/

the act of creating written works

From this reading “I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.”

Bacon's noun US /ˈbeɪkənz/

possessive form of “bacon” — back and sides of a hog salted and dried or smoked; usually sliced thin and fried

From this reading “In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.”

conclave noun US /ˈkɑːnkleɪv/

a confidential or secret meeting

From this reading “There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.”

dogma noun US /ˈdɑːɡmə/

a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof

From this reading “I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.”

Elizabethan noun US /ˌelɪzəˈbiːθən/

a person who lived during the reign of Elizabeth I

From this reading “There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.”

gravestone noun US /ˈɡreɪvstoʊn/

a stone that is used to mark a grave

From this reading “There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.”

prohibition noun US /ˌproʊəˈbɪʃən/

a law forbidding the sale of alcoholic beverages

From this reading “Thus the terrible prohibition to remove the stone was accounted for.”

Shakespeare's noun US /ˈʃeɪkspiːrz/

possessive form of “shakespeare” — English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

From this reading “I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.”

All words in this reading · 94

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 Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

accountedverbUS /əˈkaʊntɪd/

past form of “account” — be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something

From this reading Thus the terrible prohibition to remove the stone was accounted for.

accuratelyadverbUS /ˈækjərətli/

with few mistakes

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/

in the past

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

authorshipnounUS /ˈɔːθərʃɪp/

the act of creating written works

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

Bacon'snounUS /ˈbeɪkənz/

possessive form of “bacon” — back and sides of a hog salted and dried or smoked; usually sliced thin and fried

From this reading In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

believedverbUS /bɪˈliːvd/

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

buriedadjectiveUS /ˈberid/

placed in a grave

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

certaintynounUS /ˈsɜːrtənti/

the state of being certain

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

clewnoun

a ball of yarn or cord or thread

From this reading In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.

concealedadjectiveUS /kənˈsiːld/

not accessible to view

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

conclavenounUS /ˈkɑːnkleɪv/

a confidential or secret meeting

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

definedadjectiveUS /dɪˈfaɪnd/

clearly characterized or delimited

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/

precise; explicit and clearly defined

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

developedadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpt/

being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

discoveredadjectiveUS /dɪˈskʌvərd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.

documentsnounUS /ˈdɑːkjəmənts/

plural of “document” — writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

dogmanounUS /ˈdɑːɡmə/

a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

ElizabethannounUS /ˌelɪzəˈbiːθən/

a person who lived during the reign of Elizabeth I

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

evidencesnounUS /ˈevədənsəz/

plural of “evidence” — your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

fingerverbUS /ˈfɪŋɡər/

feel or handle with the fingers

From this reading In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Thus the terrible prohibition to remove the stone was accounted for.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

fullyadverbUS /ˈfʊli/

to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

gravenounUS /ɡreɪv/

death of a person

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

gravestonenounUS /ˈɡreɪvstoʊn/

a stone that is used to mark a grave

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

hollowadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːloʊ/

not solid; having a space or gap or cavity

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

how

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

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

informverbUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrm/

impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/

a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

keynounUS /kiː/

metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

laidadjectiveUS /leɪd/

set down according to a plan

From this reading In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.

lettersnounUS /ˈletərz/

the literary culture

From this reading In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

LordnounUS /lɔːrd/

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.

materialadjectiveUS /məˈtɪriəl/

concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

modifiedadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdəfaɪd/

changed in form or character

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

mysterynounUS /ˈmɪstəri/

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

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

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

notionnounUS /ˈnoʊʃən/

a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

philosophersnounUS /fəˈlɑːsəfərz/

plural of “philosopher” — a specialist in philosophy

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

philosophynounUS /fɪˈlɑː.sə.fi/

The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. (Triết học, đạo lý nhân sinh.)

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

prohibitionnounUS /ˌproʊəˈbɪʃən/

a law forbidding the sale of alcoholic beverages

From this reading Thus the terrible prohibition to remove the stone was accounted for.

RecentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/

in the recent past

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

relatingverbUS /rɪˈleɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “relate” — make a logical or causal connection

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

removeverbUS /riˈmuːv/

remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract

From this reading Thus the terrible prohibition to remove the stone was accounted for.

resultnounUS /rɪˈzʌlt/

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

Shakespeare'snounUS /ˈʃeɪkspiːrz/

possessive form of “shakespeare” — English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

somewhatadverbUS /ˈsʌmˈwʌt/

to a small degree or extent

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

spacenounUS /speɪs/

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

spokenounUS /spoʊk/

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.

stonenounUS /stoʊn/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Thus the terrible prohibition to remove the stone was accounted for.

surfacenounUS /ˈsɜːrfəs/

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

terribleadjectiveUS /ˈterəbəl/

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading Thus the terrible prohibition to remove the stone was accounted for.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

ThusadverbUS /ðʌs/

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading Thus the terrible prohibition to remove the stone was accounted for.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

understoodadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈstʊd/

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Recently, as I understood her, this notion had been somewhat modified, and was now accurately defined and fully developed in her mind, with a result of perfect certainty.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading In Lord Bacon's letters, on which she laid her finger as she spoke, she had discovered the key and clew to the whole mystery.

whompronounUS /huːm/

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

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading There were definite and minute instructions how to find a will and other documents relating to the conclave of Elizabethan philosophers, which were concealed (when and by whom she did not inform me) in a hollow space in the under surface of Shakespeare's gravestone.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading I had heard, long ago, that she believed that the material evidences of her dogma as to the authorship, together with the key of the new philosophy, would be found buried in Shakespeare's grave.

Chapter 3 of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches by Nathaniel Hawthorne holds 425 sentences, grouped into 85 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 3 of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches contain?

Chapter 3 holds 425 sentences of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches by Nathaniel Hawthorne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 425 sentences, grouped into 85 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 3 of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches?

Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 85 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches

Common questions about reading Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches by Nathaniel Hawthorne on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches?

Yes. All 2983 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #8090 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #8090, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches take to read?

About 248 minutes of reading across 597 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches section by section

How to work through Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 7 chapters of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches 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 Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches

Words and structures a reader meets early in Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Slight
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Memorial
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
College
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Friendship
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Our Old Home: A Series of English Sketches; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.