Chapter 1 of Powhatan is here in full — 387 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Powhatan is here in full — 387 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
IN SEVEN CANTOS. BY SEBA SMITH. “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET. 1841. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.
Chapter 1 of Powhatan is here in full — 387 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/77 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading ““He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.”
possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
the legislature of the United States government
From this reading “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.”
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.”
someone who plays the harp
From this reading ““He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.”
English poet (1554-1586)
From this reading ““He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.”
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading “BY SEBA SMITH.”
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.”
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.
In this reading “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.”
In this reading ““He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 1841.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading BY SEBA SMITH.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN SEVEN CANTOS.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
the legislature of the United States government
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
someone who plays the harp
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN SEVEN CANTOS.
the force of workers available
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
participate in games or sport
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BY SEBA SMITH.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading IN SEVEN CANTOS.
English poet (1554-1586)
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
term of address for a man
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading BY SEBA SMITH.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.
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 “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “He cometh to you with a tale, that holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.”--_Sir Philip Sidney._ NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
Chapter 1 of Powhatan by Seba Smith holds 387 sentences, grouped into 78 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.
Chapter 1 holds 387 sentences of Powhatan, unabridged, divided into 78 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Powhatan by Seba Smith exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 387 sentences, grouped into 78 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.
Work through the 78 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 78 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.
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.
Common questions about reading Powhatan by Seba Smith on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1171 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #60506 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #60506, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 97 minutes of reading across 235 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Powhatan section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 3 chapters of Powhatan to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Powhatan, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
