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The Best Letters of Charles Lamb
The Best Letters of Charles Lamb

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Best Letters of Charles Lamb is here in full — 430 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/86 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
[1] Patterdale.
XXXIX.
TO COLERIDGE, _October_ 23, 1802.
I read daily your political essays.
I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.
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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.

The Best Letters of Charles Lamb

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Best Letters of Charles Lamb is here in full — 430 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
[1] Patterdale.
Line 2
XXXIX.
Line 3
TO COLERIDGE, _October_ 23, 1802.
Line 4
I read daily your political essays.
/aɪ red ˈdeɪli jɔːr pəˈlɪtəkəl eˈseɪz/
Line 5
I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

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.

argument noun US /ˈɑːrɡjəmənt/

a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true

From this reading “I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.”

coleridge noun US /ˈkoʊlrɪdʒ/

English romantic poet (1772-1834)

From this reading “TO COLERIDGE, _October_ 23, 1802.”

essays noun US /eˈseɪz/

plural of “essay” — an analytic or interpretive literary composition

From this reading “I read daily your political essays.”

Jacobin noun US /ˈdʒækəbən/

a member of the radical movement that instituted the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution

From this reading “I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.”

obvious adjective US /ˈɑːbviəs/

easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind

From this reading “I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.”

October noun US /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/

the month following September and preceding November

plausible adjective US /ˈplɔːzəbəl/

apparently reasonable and credible, and therefore convincing

From this reading “I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.”

swelling noun US /ˈswelɪŋ/

an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement

From this reading “I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.”

All words in this reading · 39

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.

1

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

From this reading [1] Patterdale.

1802

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

From this reading TO COLERIDGE, _October_ 23, 1802.

23

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

From this reading TO COLERIDGE, _October_ 23, 1802.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

adnounUS /æd/

a public promotion of some product or service

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

argumentnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənt/

a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

COLERIDGEnounUS /ˈkoʊlrɪdʒ/

English romantic poet (1772-1834)

From this reading TO COLERIDGE, _October_ 23, 1802.

dailyadverbUS /ˈdeɪli/

every day; without missing a day

From this reading I read daily your political essays.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

essaysnounUS /eˈseɪz/

plural of “essay” — an analytic or interpretive literary composition

From this reading I read daily your political essays.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I read daily your political essays.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

JacobinnounUS /ˈdʒækəbən/

a member of the radical movement that instituted the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/

easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/

the month following September and preceding November

From this reading TO COLERIDGE, _October_ 23, 1802.

OnceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

particularlyadverbUS /ˌpɑːrˈtɪkjələrli/

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

Patterdale

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

From this reading [1] Patterdale.

plausibleadjectiveUS /ˈplɔːzəbəl/

apparently reasonable and credible, and therefore convincing

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

pleasedadjectiveUS /pliːzd/

experiencing or manifesting pleasure

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

politicaladjectiveUS /pəˈlɪtəkəl/

involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians

From this reading I read daily your political essays.

populum

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

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading I read daily your political essays.

sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

stylenounUS /staɪl/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

swellingnounUS /ˈswelɪŋ/

an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading TO COLERIDGE, _October_ 23, 1802.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I was particularly pleased with "Once a Jacobin;" though the argument is obvious enough, the style was less swelling than your things sometimes are, and it was plausible _ad populum_.

XXXIX

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

From this reading XXXIX.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I read daily your political essays.

Chapter 5 of The Best Letters of Charles Lamb by Charles Lamb holds 430 sentences, grouped into 86 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 The Best Letters of Charles Lamb contain?

Chapter 5 holds 430 sentences of The Best Letters of Charles Lamb, unabridged, divided into 86 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Best Letters of Charles Lamb by Charles Lamb exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 430 sentences, grouped into 86 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 5 of The Best Letters of Charles Lamb?

Work through the 86 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 86 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 5 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading The Best Letters of Charles Lamb

Common questions about reading The Best Letters of Charles Lamb by Charles Lamb on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Best Letters of Charles Lamb?

Yes. All 4312 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #10125 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Best Letters of Charles Lamb is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #10125, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Best Letters of Charles Lamb take to read?

About 359 minutes of reading across 863 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

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Vocabulary met early in The Best Letters of Charles Lamb

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Best Letters of Charles Lamb, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Essays
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Best Letters of Charles Lamb; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Found
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Best Letters of Charles Lamb; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Perfume
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Best Letters of Charles Lamb; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Letters
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Best Letters of Charles Lamb; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.