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Pencillings by the Way
Pencillings by the Way

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of Pencillings by the Way is here in full — 295 sentences across 59 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/59 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.
I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.
The whole business of diligence-travelling amused me exceedingly.
The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.
This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Pencillings by the Way

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of Pencillings by the Way is here in full — 295 sentences across 59 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/59 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.
Line 2
I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.
Line 3
The whole business of diligence-travelling amused me exceedingly.
Line 4
The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.
Line 5
This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.
/ðɪs læst ˈmenʃənd pərˈfɔːrmər ɑːn ðə wɪp ənd vɔɪs ðə ˈoʊnli tuː əˈkɑːmplɪʃmənts hiː æt ɔːl ˈkʌltɪveɪts raɪdz wʌn ʌv ðə θriː wiːl ˈhɔːrsəz ənd draɪvz ðə fɔːr ɔːr ˈsevən wɪtʃ ɑːr ɪn ədˈvæns æz ə ˈɡreɪziər ɪn ˈaʊər ˈkʌntri draɪvz ə hɜːrd ʌv ˈkætəl ənd ðeɪ ˈtrævəl ˈveri mʌtʃ ɪn ðə seɪm ˈmænər/

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.

accomplishments noun US /əˈkɑːmplɪʃmənts/

plural of “accomplishment” — the action of accomplishing something

From this reading “This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.”

clumsiness noun US /ˈklʌmzinəs/

unskillfulness resulting from a lack of training

From this reading “The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.”

cultivates verb US /ˈkʌltɪveɪts/

third-person singular of “cultivate” — foster the growth of

From this reading “This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.”

diverting adjective US /daɪˈvɜːrtɪŋ/

providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining

From this reading “The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.”

drives noun US /draɪvz/

plural of “drive” — the act of applying force to propel something

From this reading “This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.”

grazier noun US /ˈɡreɪziər/

a rancher who grazes cattle or sheep for market

From this reading “This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.”

performer noun US /pərˈfɔːrmər/

an entertainer who performs a dramatic or musical work for an audience

From this reading “This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.”

rides noun US /raɪdz/

plural of “ride” — a journey in a vehicle (usually an automobile)

From this reading “This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.”

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.

enormous size adjective + noun

In this reading “The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.”

same time adjective + noun

In this reading “I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.”

before daylight preposition + noun

In this reading “I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.”

same manner adjective + noun

In this reading “This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.”

whole business adjective + noun

In this reading “The whole business of diligence-travelling amused me exceedingly.”

about an hour preposition + article + noun counted as “about … hour”

In this reading “I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.”

All words in this reading · 121

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 PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

accomplishmentsnounUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃmənts/

plural of “accomplishment” — the action of accomplishing something

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

advanceverbUS /ədˈvæns/

move forward, also in the metaphorical sense

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

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 The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

amusedadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzd/

pleasantly occupied

From this reading The whole business of diligence-travelling amused me exceedingly.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

apartmentsnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənts/

plural of “apartment” — a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

awaked

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

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

broughtverbUS /brɔːt/

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading The whole business of diligence-travelling amused me exceedingly.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

cattlenounUS /ˈkætəl/

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

cloudedadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdɪd/

made troubled or apprehensive or distressed in appearance

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

clumsinessnounUS /ˈklʌmzinəs/

unskillfulness resulting from a lack of training

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

coffeenounUS /ˈkɑːfi/

a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

comfortnounUS /ˈkʌmfərt/

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

constructionnounUS /kənˈstrʌkʃən/

the act of constructing something

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

cultivatesverbUS /ˈkʌltɪveɪts/

third-person singular of “cultivate” — foster the growth of

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

cupnounUS /kʌp/

a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

daylightnounUS /ˈdeɪlaɪt/

the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

departurenounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/

the act of departing

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

describedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskraɪbd/

represented in words especially with sharpness and detail

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

diligence-travelling

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

From this reading The whole business of diligence-travelling amused me exceedingly.

divertingadjectiveUS /daɪˈvɜːrtɪŋ/

providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

drivesnounUS /draɪvz/

plural of “drive” — the act of applying force to propel something

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

drivingadjectiveUS /ˈdraɪvɪŋ/

having the power of driving or impelling

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

enormousadjectiveUS /ɪˈnɔːrməs/

extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

equallyadverbUS /ˈiːkwəli/

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

exceedinglyadverbUS /ɪkˈsiːdɪŋli/

to an extreme degree

From this reading The whole business of diligence-travelling amused me exceedingly.

fournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

gatesnounUS /ɡeɪts/

United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

graziernounUS /ˈɡreɪziər/

a rancher who grazes cattle or sheep for market

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

Havre

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

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

herdnounUS /hɜːrd/

a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

horsesnounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

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

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

hugeadjectiveUS /hjuːdʒ/

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

incidentsnounUS /ˈɪnsədənts/

plural of “incident” — a single distinct event

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

mannernounUS /ˈmænər/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

mentionedverbUS /ˈmenʃənd/

past form of “mention” — make reference to

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

monthnounUS /mʌnθ/

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

novelnounUS /ˈnɑːvəl/

an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

PARISnounUS /ˈperɪs/

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

passingnounUS /ˈpæsɪŋ/

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

performernounUS /pərˈfɔːrmər/

an entertainer who performs a dramatic or musical work for an audience

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

postillions

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

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

pricesnounUS /ˈpraɪsəz/

plural of “price” — the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

recallverbUS /ˈriːkɔːl/

recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

ridesnounUS /raɪdz/

plural of “ride” — a journey in a vehicle (usually an automobile)

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

seemsverbUS /siːmz/

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

separateverbUS /ˈsepəreɪt/

act as a barrier between; stand between

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

servantnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənt/

a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

sevennounUS /ˈsevən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

sizenounUS /saɪz/

the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

townnounUS /taʊn/

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

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

travelverbUS /ˈtrævəl/

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

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

vehiclenounUS /ˈviːhɪkəl/

a conveyance that transports people or objects

From this reading The construction of this vehicle has often been described; but its separate apartments (at four different prices), its enormous size, its comfort and clumsiness, and, more than all, the driving of its postillions, struck me as equally novel and diverting.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

voicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

wheelverbUS /wiːl/

change directions as if revolving on a pivot

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

whipverbUS /wɪp/

beat severely with a whip or rod

From this reading This last mentioned performer on the whip and voice (the only two accomplishments he at all cultivates), rides one of the three wheel horses, and drives the four or seven which are in advance, as a grazier in our country drives a herd of cattle, and they travel very much in the same manner.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

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

From this reading The whole business of diligence-travelling amused me exceedingly.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading PARIS.--It seems to me as if I were going back a month to recall my departure from Havre, my memory is so clouded with later incidents.

writtenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪtən/

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I was awaked on the morning after I had written to you, by a servant, who brought me at the same time a cup of coffee, and at about an hour before daylight we were passing through the huge gates of the town on our way to Paris.

Chapter 3 of Pencillings by the Way by Nathaniel Parker Willis holds 295 sentences, grouped into 59 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 Pencillings by the Way contain?

Chapter 3 holds 295 sentences of Pencillings by the Way, unabridged, divided into 59 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Pencillings by the Way by Nathaniel Parker Willis exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 295 sentences, grouped into 59 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 Pencillings by the Way?

Work through the 59 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 59 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 Pencillings by the Way

Common questions about reading Pencillings by the Way by Nathaniel Parker Willis on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Pencillings by the Way?

Yes. All 5579 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #39179 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Pencillings by the Way is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #39179, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Pencillings by the Way take to read?

About 464 minutes of reading across 1116 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Pencillings by the Way section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 21 chapters of Pencillings by the Way 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 Pencillings by the Way

Words and structures a reader meets early in Pencillings by the Way, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Italic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pencillings by the Way; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Denoted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pencillings by the Way; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Underscores
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pencillings by the Way; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Written
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pencillings by the Way; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.