Chapter 1 of Sketches by Seymour — Volume 04 is here in full — 436 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Sketches by Seymour — Volume 04 is here in full — 436 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife. He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted! PETER SIMPLE'S FOREIGN ADVENTURE. No. II. "O! what a lost mutton am I!"--Inkle and Yarico.
Chapter 1 of Sketches by Seymour — Volume 04 is here in full — 436 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 22/87 · 5 reading units · Lines 106–110
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.
-ing form of “brandish” — move or swing back and forth
From this reading “At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.”
past form of “faint” — pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
From this reading “He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!”
(classical mythology) a hero noted for his strength; performed 12 immense labors to gain immortality
From this reading “He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!”
long and thin and often limp
From this reading “He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!”
meat from a mature domestic sheep
From this reading “"O! what a lost mutton am I!"--Inkle and Yarico.”
a standard or typical example
From this reading “He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!”
-ing form of “scalp” — sell illegally, as on the black market
From this reading “At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.”
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading “He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!”
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 He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading PETER SIMPLE'S FOREIGN ADVENTURE.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "O! what a lost mutton am I!"--Inkle and Yarico.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
having life or vigor or spirit
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.
-ing form of “brandish” — move or swing back and forth
From this reading At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.
an alloy of copper and tin and sometimes other elements; also any copper-base alloy containing other elements in place of tin
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
past form of “faint” — pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading PETER SIMPLE'S FOREIGN ADVENTURE.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.
hold firmly
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
(classical mythology) a hero noted for his strength; performed 12 immense labors to gain immortality
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "O! what a lost mutton am I!"--Inkle and Yarico.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading No. II.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.
a linen tape used for trimming as a decoration
From this reading "O! what a lost mutton am I!"--Inkle and Yarico.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.
long and thin and often limp
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
plural of “lock” — a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading "O! what a lost mutton am I!"--Inkle and Yarico.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
meat from a mature domestic sheep
From this reading "O! what a lost mutton am I!"--Inkle and Yarico.
not any; not one
From this reading No. II.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading "O! what a lost mutton am I!"--Inkle and Yarico.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
a standard or typical example
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.
-ing form of “scalp” — sell illegally, as on the black market
From this reading At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.
small stuff that is used for lashing two or more ropes together
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PETER SIMPLE'S FOREIGN ADVENTURE.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the same time one of the Indians stepped forward, brandishing his scalping knife.
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
precisely as stated
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "O! what a lost mutton am I!"--Inkle and Yarico.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was the very prototype of an animated bronze Hercules; and, seizing the poor middy's lank locks, with a peculiar twist, in his iron grasp--Peter fainted!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O! what a lost mutton am I!"--Inkle and Yarico.
Chapter 1 of Sketches by Seymour — Volume 04 by Robert Seymour holds 436 sentences, grouped into 88 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 436 sentences of Sketches by Seymour — Volume 04, unabridged, divided into 88 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Sketches by Seymour — Volume 04 by Robert Seymour exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 436 sentences, grouped into 88 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 88 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 88 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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Project Gutenberg eBook #5648, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 36 minutes of reading across 88 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Sketches by Seymour — Volume 04 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
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Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Sketches by Seymour — Volume 04, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
