Chapter 1 of Rhymes for Harry and His Nurse-Maid is here in full — 234 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Rhymes for Harry and His Nurse-Maid is here in full — 234 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
to "Rhymes for Harry and his Nurse-Maid". HIS NURSE-MAID. A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd. Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise. HOLBORN HILL.
Chapter 1 of Rhymes for Harry and His Nurse-Maid is here in full — 234 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/46 · 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.
look down on with disdain
From this reading “Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.”
plural of “maxim” — a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
From this reading “Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.”
many times at short intervals
From this reading “A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.”
be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading “A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.”
ordinary writing as distinguished from verse
From this reading “A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.”
correspondence in the sounds of two or more lines (especially final sounds)
From this reading “A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.”
plural of “rhyme” — correspondence in the sounds of two or more lines (especially final sounds)
From this reading “to "Rhymes for Harry and his Nurse-Maid".”
a branch of the Tai languages
From this reading “Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.”
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 “Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.”
In this reading “A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.”
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 A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading to "Rhymes for Harry and his Nurse-Maid".
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
look down on with disdain
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading to "Rhymes for Harry and his Nurse-Maid".
do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading to "Rhymes for Harry and his Nurse-Maid".
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading HOLBORN HILL.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading to "Rhymes for Harry and his Nurse-Maid".
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOLBORN HILL.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
plural of “maxim” — a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading to "Rhymes for Harry and his Nurse-Maid".
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
many times at short intervals
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
ordinary writing as distinguished from verse
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
correspondence in the sounds of two or more lines (especially final sounds)
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
plural of “rhyme” — correspondence in the sounds of two or more lines (especially final sounds)
From this reading to "Rhymes for Harry and his Nurse-Maid".
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
not in physical motion
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
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 A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
a branch of the Tai languages
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading to "Rhymes for Harry and his Nurse-Maid".
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
at the time that
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading A simple tale will oft prevail, When sober prose is spurn'd; The charm of rhyme beguiles the time, And still a lesson's learn'd.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading Thus lines for youth, in simple truth, We never will despise; For maxims old, tho' frequent told, May still assist the wise.
Chapter 1 of Rhymes for Harry and His Nurse-Maid by Maria Arthington holds 234 sentences, grouped into 47 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 234 sentences of Rhymes for Harry and His Nurse-Maid, unabridged, divided into 47 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Rhymes for Harry and His Nurse-Maid by Maria Arthington exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 234 sentences, grouped into 47 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 47 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 47 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.
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Yes. All 234 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #45168 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #45168, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 19 minutes of reading across 47 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Rhymes for Harry and His Nurse-Maid section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 1 chapters of Rhymes for Harry and His Nurse-Maid 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 Rhymes for Harry and His Nurse-Maid, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
