Chapter 5 of Prudy Keeping House is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
Chapter 5 of Prudy Keeping House is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
MOTHER HUBBARD'S DINNER. This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in. "Not at home," Nathaniel had kept saying to visitors that afternoon. But one of them, a queenly-looking lady, would not be satisfied with the answer. "Are the children here?" demanded she.
Chapter 5 of Prudy Keeping House is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/27 · 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.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading “"Not at home," Nathaniel had kept saying to visitors that afternoon.”
possessive form of “allen” — United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)
From this reading “This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.”
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading “"Are the children here?" demanded she.”
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading “This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.”
possessive form of “hubbard” — a United States writer of science fiction and founder of Scientology (1911-1986)
From this reading “MOTHER HUBBARD'S DINNER.”
filled with satisfaction
From this reading “But one of them, a queenly-looking lady, would not be satisfied with the answer.”
characterized by dignity and propriety
From this reading “This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.”
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading “"Not at home," Nathaniel had kept saying to visitors that afternoon.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But one of them, a queenly-looking lady, would not be satisfied with the answer.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading "Not at home," Nathaniel had kept saying to visitors that afternoon.
possessive form of “allen” — United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
react verbally
From this reading But one of them, a queenly-looking lady, would not be satisfied with the answer.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are the children here?" demanded she.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But one of them, a queenly-looking lady, would not be satisfied with the answer.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading "Are the children here?" demanded she.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "Are the children here?" demanded she.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading MOTHER HUBBARD'S DINNER.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Not at home," Nathaniel had kept saying to visitors that afternoon.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Are the children here?" demanded she.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
possessive form of “hubbard” — a United States writer of science fiction and founder of Scientology (1911-1986)
From this reading MOTHER HUBBARD'S DINNER.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading "Not at home," Nathaniel had kept saying to visitors that afternoon.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading But one of them, a queenly-looking lady, would not be satisfied with the answer.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading MOTHER HUBBARD'S DINNER.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Not at home," Nathaniel had kept saying to visitors that afternoon.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Not at home," Nathaniel had kept saying to visitors that afternoon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But one of them, a queenly-looking lady, would not be satisfied with the answer.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one of them, a queenly-looking lady, would not be satisfied with the answer.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading But one of them, a queenly-looking lady, would not be satisfied with the answer.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading "Not at home," Nathaniel had kept saying to visitors that afternoon.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
characterized by dignity and propriety
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But one of them, a queenly-looking lady, would not be satisfied with the answer.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Not at home," Nathaniel had kept saying to visitors that afternoon.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading "Not at home," Nathaniel had kept saying to visitors that afternoon.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This was Mrs. Allen's "reception-day," the day on which she always staid at home, that her friends might be sure of finding her in.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But one of them, a queenly-looking lady, would not be satisfied with the answer.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But one of them, a queenly-looking lady, would not be satisfied with the answer.
Chapter 5 of Prudy Keeping House by Sophie May holds 138 sentences, grouped into 28 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 5 holds 138 sentences of Prudy Keeping House, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 5 of Prudy Keeping House by Sophie May exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 138 sentences, grouped into 28 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 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 28 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 5 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 Prudy Keeping House by Sophie May on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1881 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #20984 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #20984, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 156 minutes of reading across 377 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Prudy Keeping House section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 12 chapters of Prudy Keeping House 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 Prudy Keeping House, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
