Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
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 35/114 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Impossible! utterly impossible!
You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.
_Voilà_!
I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.
Torrents of rain.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

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 35/114 · 5 reading units · Lines 171–175

Line 1
Impossible! utterly impossible!
/ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl ˈʌtərli ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/
Line 2
You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.
Line 3
_Voilà_!
Line 4
I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.
Line 5
Torrents of rain.
/ˈtɔːrənts ʌv reɪn/

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.

complain verb US /kəmˈpleɪn/

express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading “I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.”

funny adjective US /ˈfʌni/

arousing or provoking laughter

From this reading “I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.”

raining adjective US /ˈreɪnɪŋ/

falling in drops or as if falling like rain

From this reading “I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.”

seconds noun US /ˈsekəndz/

plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading “I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.”

sending noun US /ˈsendɪŋ/

the act of causing something to go (especially messages)

From this reading “I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.”

sketches noun US /ˈsketʃəz/

plural of “sketch” — preliminary drawing for later elaboration

From this reading “I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.”

torrents noun US /ˈtɔːrənts/

plural of “torrent” — a heavy rain

From this reading “I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.”

twenty-one noun US /ˈtwentiwɔːn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty and one

From this reading “I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.”

All words in this reading · 49

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.

a-half

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

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

can't

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

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

complainverbUS /kəmˈpleɪn/

express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.

doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

don't

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

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

drawverbUS /drɔː/

cause to move by pulling

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

forty-eightadjective

being eight more than forty

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

funnyadjectiveUS /ˈfʌni/

arousing or provoking laughter

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.

I'm

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

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

impossibilities

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

From this reading You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.

ImpossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading Impossible! utterly impossible!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

it's

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

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.

minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

mortaladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrtəl/

subject to death

From this reading You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Torrents of rain.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.

rainnounUS /reɪn/

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading Torrents of rain.

rainingadjectiveUS /ˈreɪnɪŋ/

falling in drops or as if falling like rain

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

secondsnounUS /ˈsekəndz/

plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

sendingnounUS /ˈsendɪŋ/

the act of causing something to go (especially messages)

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

simplement

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

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

simplyadverbUS /ˈsɪmpli/

and nothing more

From this reading You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.

sketchesnounUS /ˈsketʃəz/

plural of “sketch” — preliminary drawing for later elaboration

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

threenounUS /θriː/

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

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.

torrentsnounUS /ˈtɔːrənts/

plural of “torrent” — a heavy rain

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

twenty-onenounUS /ˈtwentiwɔːn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty and one

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

utterlyadverbUS /ˈʌtərli/

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading Impossible! utterly impossible!

Voilà

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

From this reading _Voilà_!

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading I don't complain; I only say I can't draw what I don't see; and as to sending funny sketches when it's raining in torrents, and been doing so for the last forty-eight hours three minutes and twenty-one and a-half seconds, I'm--well, I can't--_simplement_.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You simply want me to do impossibilities, and I am only mortal.

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.