Chapter 5 of Shifting For Himself is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
Chapter 5 of Shifting For Himself is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
AT THE DINNER-TABLE. At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner. “Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions. “Shall I show you the way up?” “If you please.
Chapter 5 of Shifting For Himself is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/28 · 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 main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading “AT THE DINNER-TABLE.”
a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
From this reading “At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.”
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading ““Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions.”
according to the clock
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading “At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.”
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading ““If you please.”
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading ““Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions.”
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading ““Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions.”
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 “At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.”
In this reading “At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.”
In this reading “At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.”
In this reading “At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.”
In this reading “At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.”
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.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE DINNER-TABLE.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE DINNER-TABLE.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Shall I show you the way up?”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If you please.
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading “Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
a form of address for a man
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
according to the clock
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading “If you please.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading “Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading “Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading “Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading “Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “Shall I show you the way up?”
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading “Shall I show you the way up?”
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE DINNER-TABLE.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “Shall I show you the way up?”
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “Shall I show you the way up?”
in or at the place that
From this reading At five o’clock Gilbert started from the park, where he had sauntered about for several hours, and reached the house of Mr. Briggs half an hour or more before dinner.
which person or people
From this reading “Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Shall I show you the way up?”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Your room is ready,” said the servant, who had received her instructions.
Chapter 5 of Shifting For Himself by Horatio, Jr. Alger holds 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 141 sentences of Shifting For Himself, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 5 of Shifting For Himself by Horatio, Jr. Alger exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 29 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 Shifting For Himself by Horatio, Jr. Alger on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4606 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #55598 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #55598, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 383 minutes of reading across 922 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Shifting For Himself section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 39 chapters of Shifting For Himself 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 Shifting For Himself, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
