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The Brightener
The Brightener

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Brightener is here in full — 230 sentences across 46 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Brightener
Context Illustration Reading 1/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.
& A. M. Williamson," although my husband has gone out of this world.
It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.
I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.
But now there is far more help than that.
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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 Brightener

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Brightener is here in full — 230 sentences across 46 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.
/tuː ðə kaɪnd ˈpiːpəl huː red ˈaʊər bʊks aɪ wɑːnt tuː ɪkˈspleɪn tuː juː ɪn keɪs ɪt meɪ ˈɪntrəst juː ə ˈlɪtəl waɪ ɪt ɪz ðæt aɪ wɑːnt tuː kiːp ðə fɜːrm neɪm æz wiː juːzd tuː kɔːl ɪt ʌv siː en/
Line 2
& A. M. Williamson," although my husband has gone out of this world.
Line 3
It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.
/ɪt ɪz bɪˈkɔːz aɪ fiːl ˈveri ˈstrɔːŋli ðæt hiː helps miː wɪð ðə wɜːrk ˈiːvɪn mɔːr ðæn hiː wɑːz ˈeɪbəl tuː duː ɪn ðɪs wɜːrld/
Line 4
I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.
/aɪ ˈɔːlweɪz hæd hɪz ædˈvaɪs ənd wen wiː tʊk ˈmoʊtər tʊrz hiː ɡeɪv miː hɪz noʊts tuː juːs æz wel æz maɪ oʊn/
Line 5
But now there is far more help than that.
/bʌt naʊ ðer ɪz fɑːr mɔːr help ðæn ðæt/

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.

advice noun US /ædˈvaɪs/

a proposal for an appropriate course of action

From this reading “I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.”

explain verb US /ɪkˈspleɪn/

make plain and comprehensible

From this reading “_To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.”

firm adjective US /fɜːrm/

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

From this reading “_To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.”

helps noun US /helps/

plural of “help” — the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

From this reading “It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.”

motor noun US /ˈmoʊtər/

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading “I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.”

notes noun US /noʊts/

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading “I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.”

strongly adverb US /ˈstrɔːŋli/

with strength or in a strong manner

From this reading “It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.”

tours noun US /tʊrz/

an industrial city in western France on the Loire River

From this reading “I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.”

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

far more adverb + adjective

In this reading “But now there is far more help than that.”

feel very verb + adjective

In this reading “It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.”

in case preposition + noun

if there happens to be need

In this reading “_To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

advicenounUS /ædˈvaɪs/

a proposal for an appropriate course of action

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading & A. M. Williamson," although my husband has gone out of this world.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

BooksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But now there is far more help than that.

CnounUS /siː/

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

callverbUS /kɔːl/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

casenounUS /keɪs/

an occurrence of something

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

explainverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪn/

make plain and comprehensible

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading But now there is far more help than that.

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

firmadjectiveUS /fɜːrm/

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading & A. M. Williamson," although my husband has gone out of this world.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading & A. M. Williamson," although my husband has gone out of this world.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

helpverbUS /help/

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading But now there is far more help than that.

helpsnounUS /helps/

plural of “help” — the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

husbandnounUS /ˈhʌzbənd/

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading & A. M. Williamson," although my husband has gone out of this world.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

KindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

MnounUS /em/

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading & A. M. Williamson," although my husband has gone out of this world.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading & A. M. Williamson," although my husband has gone out of this world.

NnounUS /en/

a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

notesnounUS /noʊts/

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading But now there is far more help than that.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading & A. M. Williamson," although my husband has gone out of this world.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

PeoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

ReadverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

stronglyadverbUS /ˈstrɔːŋli/

with strength or in a strong manner

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading But now there is far more help than that.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading & A. M. Williamson," although my husband has gone out of this world.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

toursnounUS /tʊrz/

an industrial city in western France on the Loire River

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading I always had his advice, and when we took motor tours he gave me his notes to use as well as my own.

WhopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

whynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

Williamson

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

From this reading & A. M. Williamson," although my husband has gone out of this world.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading It is because I feel very strongly that he helps me with the work even more than he was able to do in this world.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading & A. M. Williamson," although my husband has gone out of this world.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _To the Kind People Who Read Our Books:_ I want to explain to you, in case it may interest you a little, why it is that I want to keep the "firm name" (as we used to call it) of "C. N.

Chapter 1 of The Brightener by A. M. (Alice Muriel) Williamson holds 230 sentences, grouped into 46 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 1 of The Brightener contain?

Chapter 1 holds 230 sentences of The Brightener, unabridged, divided into 46 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Brightener by A. M. (Alice Muriel) Williamson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 230 sentences, grouped into 46 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 1 of The Brightener?

Work through the 46 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 46 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 1 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading The Brightener

Common questions about reading The Brightener by A. M. (Alice Muriel) Williamson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Brightener?

Yes. All 6166 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32428 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Brightener is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #32428, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Brightener take to read?

About 513 minutes of reading across 1234 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Brightener section by section

How to work through The Brightener section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 37 chapters of The Brightener to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in The Brightener

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Brightener, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

People
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Brightener; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Books
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Brightener; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Explain
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Brightener; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Interest
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Brightener; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.