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Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia
Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia is here in full — 65 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia
Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS.
THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.
She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.
Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.
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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.

Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia is here in full — 65 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS.
Line 2
THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.
Line 3
The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.
Line 4
She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.
Line 5
Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

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.

PRINCESS noun US /ˈprɪn.ses/

The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.

From this reading “THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS.”

All words in this reading · 82

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.

accustomed

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

airy

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

and

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

are

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

artificial

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

From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.

as

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

be

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

been

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

brother

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

but

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

by

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

cannot

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

cheerful

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

childish

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

competitions

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

conversation

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

could

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

daughters

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

DILIGENCE

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

From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS.

doors

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

embittered

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

emulation

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

families

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

few

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

find

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

for

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

found

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

From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.

good

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

had

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

HER

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

From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS.

herself

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

houses

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

humour

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

Imlac

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

in

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

INQUIRY

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

From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS.

insinuated

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

into

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

its

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

joined

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

levity

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

liberality

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

long

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

low

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

From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.

many

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

meaning

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

meantime

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

merriment

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

From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.

MORE

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

From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS.

much

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

narrow

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

From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.

Nekayah

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

no

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

not

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

of

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

often

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

From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.

petty

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

pleased

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

pleasures

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

poor

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

prattle

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

preserved

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

PRINCESSnounUS /ˈprɪn.ses/

The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.

From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS.

pure

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

PURSUES

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

From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS.

She

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

From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.

SUCCESS

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

From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS.

THAN

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

From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS.

THE

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

From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS.

their

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

From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.

there

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

they

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

thoughts

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

From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.

through

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

to

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

too

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

way

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

were

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

From this reading The daughters of many houses were airy and cheerful; but Nekayah had been too long accustomed to the conversation of Imlac and her brother to be much pleased with childish levity and prattle which had no meaning.

which

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

From this reading THE Princess in the meantime insinuated herself into many families; for there are few doors through which liberality, joined with good humour, cannot find its way.

wishes

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

From this reading She found their thoughts narrow, their wishes low, and their merriment often artificial.

WITH

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

From this reading THE PRINCESS PURSUES HER INQUIRY WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN SUCCESS.

worthless

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

From this reading Their pleasures, poor as they were, could not be preserved pure, but were embittered by petty competitions and worthless emulation.

Chapter 21 of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson holds 65 sentences, grouped into 13 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 21 of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia contain?

Chapter 21 holds 65 sentences of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, unabridged, divided into 13 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 65 sentences, grouped into 13 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 21 of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia?

Work through the 13 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 13 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 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 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 Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

Common questions about reading Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia?

Yes. All 1438 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #652 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #652, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia take to read?

About 119 minutes of reading across 288 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia section by section

How to work through Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia 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 Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

Words and structures a reader meets early in Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Description
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Palace
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Valley
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Listen
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.