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The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02
The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02 is here in full — 74 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.
I no longer felt as a boy.
Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.
I was, in truth, nearly seventeen, and I gave myself the airs of a man.
Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.
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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 Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02 is here in full — 74 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.
/aɪ siːmd tuː ˌmaɪˈself tuː hæv meɪd ə liːp ɪn laɪf wen aɪ rɪˈtɜːrnd tuː skuːl/
Line 2
I no longer felt as a boy.
/aɪ noʊ ˈlɔːŋɡər felt æz ə bɔɪ/
Line 3
Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.
Line 4
I was, in truth, nearly seventeen, and I gave myself the airs of a man.
/aɪ wɑːz ɪn truːθ ˈnɪrli ˈsevənˈtiːn ənd aɪ ɡeɪv ˌmaɪˈself ðə erz ʌv ə mæn/
Line 5
Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

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.

adolescent adjective US /ˌædəˈlesənt/

relating to or peculiar to or suggestive of an adolescent

From this reading “Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.”

arrogate verb US /ˈæroʊɡeɪt/

demand as being one's due or property; assert one's right or title to

From this reading “Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.”

Caxton noun US /ˈkækstən/

English printer who in 1474 printed the first book in English (1422-1491)

From this reading “Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.”

encompassed verb US /enˈkʌmpəst/

past form of “encompass” — include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory

From this reading “Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.”

flap verb US /flæp/

move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion

From this reading “Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.”

jackets noun US /ˈdʒækɪts/

plural of “jacket” — a short coat

From this reading “Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.”

rampant adjective US /ˈræmpənt/

unrestrained and violent

From this reading “Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.”

tacit adjective US /ˈtæsɪt/

implied by or inferred from actions or statements

From this reading “Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.”

All words in this reading · 104

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 I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

adolescentadjectiveUS /ˌædəˈlesənt/

relating to or peculiar to or suggestive of an adolescent

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

airsnounUS /erz/

affected manners intended to impress others

From this reading I was, in truth, nearly seventeen, and I gave myself the airs of a man.

allowingverbUS /əˈlaʊɪŋ/

-ing form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

arrogateverbUS /ˈæroʊɡeɪt/

demand as being one's due or property; assert one's right or title to

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I no longer felt as a boy.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

blackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

bootsnounUS /buːts/

plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading I no longer felt as a boy.

buckramnoun

a coarse cotton fabric stiffened with glue; used in bookbinding and to stiffen clothing

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

CaxtonnounUS /ˈkækstən/

English printer who in 1474 printed the first book in English (1422-1491)

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

circumvallation

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

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

coaxedverbUS /koʊkst/

past form of “coax” — influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

collarsnounUS /ˈkɑːlərz/

plural of “collar” — a band that fits around the neck and is usually folded over

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

concessionnounUS /kənˈseʃən/

a contract granting the right to operate a subsidiary business

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/

an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

eldersnounUS /ˈeldərz/

plural of “elder” — a person who is older than you are

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

elevationnounUS /ˌeləˈveɪʃən/

the event of something being raised upward

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

encompassedverbUS /enˈkʌmpəst/

past form of “encompass” — include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/

construct, build, or erect

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

Esqnoun

a title of respect for a member of the English gentry ranking just below a knight; placed after the name

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

existencenounUS /eɡˈzɪstəns/

the state or fact of existing

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

fallverbUS /fɔːl/

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading I no longer felt as a boy.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

flapverbUS /flæp/

move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

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

From this reading I was, in truth, nearly seventeen, and I gave myself the airs of a man.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

hithertoadverbUS /ˈhɪðɜːrˈtuː/

used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.

imprompt

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

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

JacknounUS /dʒæk/

a small worthless amount

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

jacketsnounUS /ˈdʒækɪts/

plural of “jacket” — a short coat

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

leapnounUS /liːp/

a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards

From this reading I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.

long-envied

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

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/

for more time

From this reading I no longer felt as a boy.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading I was, in truth, nearly seventeen, and I gave myself the airs of a man.

MasternounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.

nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading I was, in truth, nearly seventeen, and I gave myself the airs of a man.

necknounUS /nek/

the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading I no longer felt as a boy.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

observedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

pairnounUS /per/

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

passverbUS /pæs/

go across or through

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

Pisistratus

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

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

presentedverbUS /priˈzentɪd/

past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

pursenounUS /pɜːrs/

a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

rampantadjectiveUS /ˈræmpənt/

unrestrained and violent

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.

schoolnounUS /skuːl/

an educational institution

From this reading I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.

seemsverbUS /siːmz/

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

seventeenadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːn/

being one more than sixteen

From this reading I was, in truth, nearly seventeen, and I gave myself the airs of a man.

silknounUS /sɪlk/

a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

Sisty

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

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

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

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

spaniel-like

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

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

tacitadjectiveUS /ˈtæsɪt/

implied by or inferred from actions or statements

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

tailnounUS /teɪl/

the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

tail-less

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

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

terrier-wise

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

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I was, in truth, nearly seventeen, and I gave myself the airs of a man.

titlenounUS /ˈtaɪtəl/

a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.

truthnounUS /truːθ/

a fact that has been verified

From this reading I was, in truth, nearly seventeen, and I gave myself the airs of a man.

UnclenounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

upshooting

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

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I was, in truth, nearly seventeen, and I gave myself the airs of a man.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

WellingtonnounUS /ˈwelɪŋtən/

British general and statesman; he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo; subsequently served as Prime Minister (1769-1852)

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

whalebonenoun

a horny material from the upper jaws of certain whales; used as the ribs of fans or as stays in corsets

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading I seemed to myself to have made a leap in life when I returned to school.

wherein

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

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

wontnounUS /woʊnt/

an established custom

From this reading Uncle Jack, out of his own purse, had presented me with my first pair of Wellington boots; my mother had been coaxed into allowing me a small tail to jackets hitherto tail-less; my collars, which had been wont, spaniel-like, to flap and fall about my neck, now, terrier-wise, stood erect and rampant, encompassed with a circumvallation of whalebone, buckram, and black silk.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Now, be it observed that that crisis in adolescent existence wherein we first pass from Master Sisty into Mr. Pisistratus, or Pisistratus Caxton, Esq.; wherein we arrogate, and with tacit concession from our elders, the long-envied title of young man,--always seems a sudden and imprompt upshooting and elevation.

Chapter 5 of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02 by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton holds 74 sentences, grouped into 15 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 Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02 contain?

Chapter 5 holds 74 sentences of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02, unabridged, divided into 15 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02 by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 74 sentences, grouped into 15 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 Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02?

Work through the 15 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 15 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 Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02

Common questions about reading The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02 by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02?

Yes. All 405 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7587 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7587, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02 take to read?

About 33 minutes of reading across 81 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02 section by section

How to work through The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 5 chapters of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02 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 Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Reached
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Twelve
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Preparatory
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
School
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 02; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.