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Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890
Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 is here in full — 571 sentences across 115 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890
Context Illustration Reading 18/114 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.
Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.
But I'm wandering, CHARLIE, I'm wandering.
'Oliday form is my text.
Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.
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Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 is here in full — 571 sentences across 115 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 18/114 · 5 reading units · Lines 86–90

Line 1
NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.
Line 2
Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.
Line 3
But I'm wandering, CHARLIE, I'm wandering.
Line 4
'Oliday form is my text.
Line 5
Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.

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.

flats noun US /flæts/

footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)

From this reading “Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.”

nicer adjective US /ˈnaɪsər/

comparative of “nice” — pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading “Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.”

Parry verb US /ˈperi/

impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball)

From this reading “Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.”

pie noun US /paɪ/

dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top

From this reading “Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.”

soar verb US /sɔːr/

rise rapidly

From this reading “Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.”

spotted adjective US /ˈspɑːtɪd/

having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)

From this reading “NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.”

Switzerland noun US /ˈswɪtsərlənd/

a landlocked federal republic in central Europe

From this reading “Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.”

topper noun US /ˈtɑːpər/

a worker who makes or adds the top to something

From this reading “NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.”

All words in this reading · 68

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 NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

ardly

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

From this reading Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

birdnounUS /bɜːrd/

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But I'm wandering, CHARLIE, I'm wandering.

can't

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

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

CHARLIE

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

flatsnounUS /flæts/

footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

flyverbUS /flaɪ/

travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

formnounUS /fɔːrm/

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading 'Oliday form is my text.

gitnounUS /ɡɪt/

a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

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

From this reading Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.

goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/

coins made of gold

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

I'm

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

From this reading But I'm wandering, CHARLIE, I'm wandering.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading 'Oliday form is my text.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.

It's

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

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.

LastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading 'Oliday form is my text.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.

niceradjectiveUS /ˈnaɪsər/

comparative of “nice” — pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

NODDY

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

Oliday

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

From this reading 'Oliday form is my text.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

pantermime

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

ParryverbUS /ˈperi/

impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball)

From this reading Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.

pienounUS /paɪ/

dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

sitverbUS /sɪt/

be seated

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

soarverbUS /sɔːr/

rise rapidly

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

spottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/

having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

SPRIGGINS

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

SwitzerlandnounUS /ˈswɪtsərlənd/

a landlocked federal republic in central Europe

From this reading Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.

textnounUS /tekst/

the words of something written

From this reading 'Oliday form is my text.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

there's

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

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading Oh! if there's one thing more nicer than pie, It's to soar like a bird in the sight of the flats as can't git on the fly.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

toppernounUS /ˈtɑːpər/

a worker who makes or adds the top to something

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

turnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

wanderingadjectiveUS /ˈwɑːndərɪŋ/

migratory

From this reading But I'm wandering, CHARLIE, I'm wandering.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.

Wos

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

yaller

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

From this reading NODDY SPRIGGINS, _he_ spotted me, CHARLIE,--him being left out in the cold,-- And to see him sit down on his topper, and turn off as yaller as gold, Wos as good as a pantermime.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Last year it was Parry and Switzerland; 'ardly know where to go next.

Chapter 1 of Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 by Various holds 571 sentences, grouped into 115 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 Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 contain?

Chapter 1 holds 571 sentences of Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890, unabridged, divided into 115 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 by Various exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 571 sentences, grouped into 115 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 Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890?

Work through the 115 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 115 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 Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890

Common questions about reading Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 by Various on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890?

Yes. All 571 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #12305 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #12305, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 take to read?

About 47 minutes of reading across 115 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 section by section

How to work through Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 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 Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890

Words and structures a reader meets early in Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

London
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Charivari
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
August
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Modern
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.