Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British — Volume 1

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British — Volume 1 is here in full — 348 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By George [Editor] Gilfillan • Curated US English Learning Edition

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THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

The longe dayes and the nightes eke, I would bewail my fortune in this wise, For which, against distress comfort to seek, My custom was, on mornes, for to rise Early as day: O happy exercise!

By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.

XI.

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter V Reading 1/69

Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British — Volume 1

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British — Volume 1 is here in full — 348 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/69 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

/ðə kɪŋ ðʌs dɪˈskraɪbz ðə əˈpɪrəns ʌv hɪz ˈmɪstrəs wen hiː fɜːrst sɔː hɜːr frʌm ə ˈwɪndoʊ ʌv hɪz ˈprɪzən æt ˈwɪnzər/

Line 2

/eks/

Line 3

The longe dayes and the nightes eke, I would bewail my fortune in this wise, For which, against distress comfort to seek, My custom was, on mornes, for to rise Early as day: O happy exercise!

Line 4

By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.

/baɪ ðiː keɪm aɪ tuː dʒɔɪ aʊt ʌv ˈtɔːrment bʌt naʊ tuː ˈpɜːrpəs ʌv maɪ fɜːrst ˌɪnˈtent/

Line 5

XI.

/ʃiː/

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.

custom noun US /ˈkʌstəm/

accepted or habitual practice

From this reading “The longe dayes and the nightes eke, I would bewail my fortune in this wise, For which, against distress comfort to seek, My custom was, on mornes, for to rise Early as day: O happy exercise!”

describes verb US /dɪˈskraɪbz/

third-person singular of “describe” — give a description of

From this reading “THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.”

distress noun US /dɪˈstres/

psychological suffering

exercise noun US /ˈeksərsaɪz/

the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit

intent noun US /ˌɪnˈtent/

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading “By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.”

prison noun US /ˈprɪzən/

a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment

From this reading “THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.”

torment noun US /ˈtɔːrment/

unbearable physical pain

From this reading “By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.”

windsor noun US /ˈwɪnzər/

a city in southeastern Ontario on the Detroit River opposite Detroit

From this reading “THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.”

All words in this reading · 62

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.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The longe dayes and the nightes eke, I would bewail my fortune in this wise, For which, against distress comfort to seek, My custom was, on mornes, for to rise Early as day: O happy exercise!

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

APPEARANCEnounUS /əˈpɪrəns/

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

bewailverb

regret strongly

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.

comfortnounUS /ˈkʌmfərt/

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

customnounUS /ˈkʌstəm/

accepted or habitual practice

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

dayes

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

DESCRIBESverbUS /dɪˈskraɪbz/

third-person singular of “describe” — give a description of

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

distressnounUS /dɪˈstres/

psychological suffering

EarlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

eke

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

exercisenounUS /ˈeksərsaɪz/

the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit

FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

fortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

FROMprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

HEpronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

HERdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

intentnounUS /ˌɪnˈtent/

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.

joynounUS /dʒɔɪ/

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.

KINGnounUS /kɪŋ/

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

longe

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

MISTRESSnounUS /ˈmɪstrəs/

an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

mornes

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

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

nightes

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

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.

OnounUS /oʊ/

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

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.

PRISONnounUS /ˈprɪzən/

a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

purposenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəs/

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.

riseverbUS /raɪz/

move upward

SAWverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

seekverbUS /siːk/

try to get or reach

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

theepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

THUSadverbUS /ðʌs/

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

tormentnounUS /ˈtɔːrment/

unbearable physical pain

From this reading By thee came I to joy out of torment; But now to purpose of my first intent.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

WHENconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

WINDOWnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

WINDSORnounUS /ˈwɪnzər/

a city in southeastern Ontario on the Detroit River opposite Detroit

From this reading THE KING THUS DESCRIBES THE APPEARANCE OF HIS MISTRESS, WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER FROM A WINDOW OF HIS PRISON AT WINDSOR.

wiseadjectiveUS /waɪz/

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

XnounUS /eks/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading X.

XInounUS /ʃiː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of ten and one

From this reading XI.

Chapter 5 of Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British — Volume 1 by George [Editor] Gilfillan holds 348 sentences, grouped into 70 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.

What does chapter 5 of Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British — Volume 1 contain?

Chapter 5 holds 348 sentences of Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British — Volume 1, unabridged, divided into 70 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British — Volume 1 by George [Editor] Gilfillan exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 348 sentences, grouped into 70 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.

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Work through the 70 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

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Chapter V · Chapter 5

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