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Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day

Chapter XXXIX · Chapter 39

Chapter 39 of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day is here in full — 888 sentences across 178 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Charles Dickens • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

CHAPTER THE FIRST Matrimony is proverbially a serious undertaking.

Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

Narrator

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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.

Chapter XXXIX Reading 1/177

Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day Charles Dickens

Cover illustration for Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day

Chapter XXXIX

Chapter 39

Chapter 39 of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day is here in full — 888 sentences across 178 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

CHAPTER THE FIRST Matrimony is proverbially a serious undertaking. Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself. It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over. They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other. Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day

Chapter XXXIX · Chapter 39

Chapter 39 of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day is here in full — 888 sentences across 178 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/177 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

CHAPTER THE FIRST Matrimony is proverbially a serious undertaking.

Line 2

Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

Line 3

It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

Line 4

They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

Line 5

Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

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.

Same adjective US /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading “They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.”

All words in this reading · 77

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

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FIRST Matrimony is proverbially a serious undertaking.

all

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

an

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

and

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

anti-connubial

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

as

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

assurance

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

at

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

Bailey

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

brandy-and-water

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

but

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

case

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

CHAPTER

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FIRST Matrimony is proverbially a serious undertaking.

comfort

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

compound

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

degree

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

derive

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

difficult

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

easily

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

extricate

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

falls

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

finds

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

FIRST

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FIRST Matrimony is proverbially a serious undertaking.

for

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

from

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

he

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

himself

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

in

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

inclinations

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

into

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

is

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FIRST Matrimony is proverbially a serious undertaking.

it

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

Like

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

man

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

Matrimony

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FIRST Matrimony is proverbially a serious undertaking.

misfortune

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

much

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

no

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

of

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

Old

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

on

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

one

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

other

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

over

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

over-weening

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

plunge

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

points

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

predilection

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

proverbially

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FIRST Matrimony is proverbially a serious undertaking.

rather

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

remarkably

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

say

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

serious

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FIRST Matrimony is proverbially a serious undertaking.

strong

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

telling

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

that

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

THE

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FIRST Matrimony is proverbially a serious undertaking.

these

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

They

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

thing

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

timidity

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

timorous

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

to

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

Tottle

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

uncommon

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

undertaking

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FIRST Matrimony is proverbially a serious undertaking.

unfortunate

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

unparalleled

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

use

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

uxorious

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

victims

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

From this reading They say the same thing at the Old Bailey, and the unfortunate victims derive as much comfort from the assurance in the one case as in the other.

was

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

Watkins

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

From this reading Mr. Watkins Tottle was a rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.

which

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

From this reading Like an over-weening predilection for brandy-and-water, it is a misfortune into which a man easily falls, and from which he finds it remarkably difficult to extricate himself.

who

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

From this reading It is of no use telling a man who is timorous on these points, that it is but one plunge, and all is over.

Chapter 39 of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day by Charles Dickens holds 888 sentences, grouped into 178 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 39 of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day contain?

Chapter 39 holds 888 sentences of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day, unabridged, divided into 178 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 39 of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 888 sentences, grouped into 178 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 39 of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day?

Work through the 178 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 178 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 39 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 39 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 Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day

Common questions about reading Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day by Charles Dickens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day?

Yes. All 8759 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #882 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #882, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1752 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day section by section

How to work through Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

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Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day

Words and structures a reader meets early in Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Conveyed: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Those: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Short: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Words: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.