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Poor Jack
Poor Jack

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Poor Jack is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/80 · 5 lines
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Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.
I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."
I have since ascertained that this remarkable event occurred in January 1787.
But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."
As for Anno Domini, he had no notion of it whatever.
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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.

Poor Jack

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Poor Jack is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/80 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.
Line 2
I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."
Line 3
I have since ascertained that this remarkable event occurred in January 1787.
Line 4
But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."
Line 5
As for Anno Domini, he had no notion of it whatever.

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.

ascertained adjective US /ˌæsərˈteɪnd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading “I have since ascertained that this remarkable event occurred in January 1787.”

Druids noun US /ˈdruːɪdz/

plural of “druid” — a pre-Christian priest among the Celts of ancient Gaul and Britain and Ireland

From this reading “I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."”

Histories noun US /ˈhɪstəriz/

plural of “history” — the aggregate of past events

From this reading “Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.”

launched verb US /lɔːntʃt/

past form of “launch” — set up or found

From this reading “I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."”

licked adjective US /lɪkt/

having been got the better of

From this reading “But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."”

naval adjective US /ˈneɪvəl/

connected with or belonging to or used in a navy

From this reading “But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."”

occurrence noun US /əˈkɜːrəns/

an event that happens

From this reading “But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."”

reckoned verb US /ˈrekənd/

past form of “reckon” — expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading “But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."”

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.

1

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

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

1786

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

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

1787

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

From this reading I have since ascertained that this remarkable event occurred in January 1787.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

afore

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

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

AmericansnounUS /əˈmerəkənz/

plural of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

Anno

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

From this reading As for Anno Domini, he had no notion of it whatever.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

ascertainedadjectiveUS /ˌæsərˈteɪnd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading I have since ascertained that this remarkable event occurred in January 1787.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

battlenounUS /ˈbætəl/

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

beginverbUS /bɪˈɡɪn/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/

brought into existence

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

BostonnounUS /ˈbɑːstən/

state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

Bunker's

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

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

cleanadjectiveUS /kliːn/

free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

Domini

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

From this reading As for Anno Domini, he had no notion of it whatever.

DruidsnounUS /ˈdruːɪdz/

plural of “druid” — a pre-Christian priest among the Celts of ancient Gaul and Britain and Ireland

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

engagementnounUS /enˈɡeɪdʒmənt/

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

eventnounUS /ɪˈvent/

something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading I have since ascertained that this remarkable event occurred in January 1787.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

HillnounUS /hɪl/

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

HistoriesnounUS /ˈhɪstəriz/

plural of “history” — the aggregate of past events

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

how

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

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

inquiredverbUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərd/

past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

instancenounUS /ˈɪnstəns/

an occurrence of something

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

invariablyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbli/

without variation or change, in every case

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading As for Anno Domini, he had no notion of it whatever.

JacknounUS /dʒæk/

a small worthless amount

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading I have since ascertained that this remarkable event occurred in January 1787.

KingnounUS /kɪŋ/

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

launchedverbUS /lɔːntʃt/

past form of “launch” — set up or found

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

lickedadjectiveUS /lɪkt/

having been got the better of

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

LordnounUS /lɔːrd/

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

Marryat

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

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

Melpomenenoun

(Greek mythology) the Muse of tragedy

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

navaladjectiveUS /ˈneɪvəl/

connected with or belonging to or used in a navy

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading As for Anno Domini, he had no notion of it whatever.

notionnounUS /ˈnoʊʃən/

a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading As for Anno Domini, he had no notion of it whatever.

occurredverbUS /əˈkɜːrd/

inflected form of “occur” — come to pass

From this reading I have since ascertained that this remarkable event occurred in January 1787.

occurrencenounUS /əˈkɜːrəns/

an event that happens

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

PeoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

reckonedverbUS /ˈrekənd/

past form of “reckon” — expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

remarkableadjectiveUS /rɪˈmɑːrkəbəl/

unusual or striking

From this reading I have since ascertained that this remarkable event occurred in January 1787.

replynounUS /rɪˈplaɪ/

a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

respondedverbUS /rɪˈspɑːndɪd/

past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

sarvice

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

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

servedverbUS /sɜːrvd/

past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading I have since ascertained that this remarkable event occurred in January 1787.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

StoriesnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

TennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading I have since ascertained that this remarkable event occurred in January 1787.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

VolumenounUS /ˈvɑːljuːm/

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading As for Anno Domini, he had no notion of it whatever.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

WorksnounUS /wɜːrks/

buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading Works of Captain Marryat, Volume Ten In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin with the Histories of other People.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading But my father always reckoned in this way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we licked the Americans clean out of Boston[1]."

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the Melpomene."

Chapter 1 of Poor Jack by Frederick Marryat holds 401 sentences, grouped into 81 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 Poor Jack contain?

Chapter 1 holds 401 sentences of Poor Jack, unabridged, divided into 81 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Poor Jack by Frederick Marryat exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 401 sentences, grouped into 81 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 Poor Jack?

Work through the 81 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 81 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 Poor Jack

Common questions about reading Poor Jack by Frederick Marryat on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Poor Jack?

Yes. All 6405 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #14222 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Poor Jack is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #14222, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Poor Jack take to read?

About 533 minutes of reading across 1281 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Poor Jack section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 16 chapters of Poor Jack 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 Poor Jack

Words and structures a reader meets early in Poor Jack, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Works
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Poor Jack; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Captain
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Poor Jack; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Marryat
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Poor Jack; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Volume
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Poor Jack; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.