Chapter 1 of Silver Pitchers is here in full — 83 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Silver Pitchers is here in full — 83 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A Centennial Love Story. AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC. BOSTON: ROBERTS BROTHERS. UNIVERSITY PRESS: JOHN WILSON & SON, CAMBRIDGE. "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
Chapter 1 of Silver Pitchers is here in full — 83 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/16 · 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.
a university in England
From this reading “UNIVERSITY PRESS: JOHN WILSON & SON, CAMBRIDGE.”
the 100th anniversary (or the celebration of it)
From this reading “A Centennial Love Story.”
plural of “cousin” — the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading “AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.”
having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance
From this reading “"We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.”
the feeling of being displeased or annoyed or dissatisfied with someone or something
From this reading “"We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.”
United States biochemist (born in England) honored for his discovery that some genes contain introns (born in 1943)
From this reading “BOSTON: ROBERTS BROTHERS.”
plural of “sketch” — preliminary drawing for later elaboration
From this reading “AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.”
author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)
From this reading “UNIVERSITY PRESS: JOHN WILSON & SON, CAMBRIDGE.”
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 “"We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.”
In this reading “"We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.”
a story dealing with love
In this reading “A Centennial Love Story.”
In this reading “AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.”
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 Centennial Love Story.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading BOSTON: ROBERTS BROTHERS.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading BOSTON: ROBERTS BROTHERS.
a university in England
From this reading UNIVERSITY PRESS: JOHN WILSON & SON, CAMBRIDGE.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
the 100th anniversary (or the celebration of it)
From this reading A Centennial Love Story.
plural of “cousin” — the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
the feeling of being displeased or annoyed or dissatisfied with someone or something
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
being one more than seven
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
apart from; not including
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
a young female
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading UNIVERSITY PRESS: JOHN WILSON & SON, CAMBRIDGE.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading A Centennial Love Story.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
the force of workers available
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
used to form the superlative
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
out of fashion
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading UNIVERSITY PRESS: JOHN WILSON & SON, CAMBRIDGE.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
United States biochemist (born in England) honored for his discovery that some genes contain introns (born in 1943)
From this reading BOSTON: ROBERTS BROTHERS.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
plural of “sketch” — preliminary drawing for later elaboration
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
a male human offspring
From this reading UNIVERSITY PRESS: JOHN WILSON & SON, CAMBRIDGE.
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 Centennial Love Story.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
the body of faculty and students at a university
From this reading UNIVERSITY PRESS: JOHN WILSON & SON, CAMBRIDGE.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone.
author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)
From this reading UNIVERSITY PRESS: JOHN WILSON & SON, CAMBRIDGE.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC.
Chapter 1 of Silver Pitchers by Louisa May Alcott holds 83 sentences, grouped into 17 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 83 sentences of Silver Pitchers, unabridged, divided into 17 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Silver Pitchers by Louisa May Alcott exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 83 sentences, grouped into 17 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 17 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 17 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.
Common questions about reading Silver Pitchers by Louisa May Alcott on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3528 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34920 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #34920, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 294 minutes of reading across 706 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Silver Pitchers section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 19 chapters of Silver Pitchers 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 Silver Pitchers, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
