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The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14
The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14 is here in full — 69 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14
Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The House-Tops!
What a soberizing effect that prospect produces on the mind.
But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.
It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.
First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.
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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 14

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14 is here in full — 69 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The House-Tops!
Line 2
What a soberizing effect that prospect produces on the mind.
Line 3
But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.
/bʌt ə ɡreɪt ˈmeni ˈrekwəzəts ɡoʊ təˈwɔːrdz ðə səˈlekʃən ʌv ðə raɪt pɔɪnt ʌv sərˈveɪ/
Line 4
It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.
Line 5
First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

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.

attics noun US /ˈætɪks/

plural of “attic” — floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage

From this reading “First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.”

fosse noun US /fɑːs/

ditch dug as a fortification and usually filled with water

From this reading “First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.”

humored verb US /ˈhjuːmərd/

past form of “humor” — put into a good mood

From this reading “First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.”

Londoners noun US /ˈlʌndənərz/

plural of “londoner” — a native or resident of London

From this reading “First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.”

requisites noun US /ˈrekwəzəts/

plural of “requisite” — anything indispensable

From this reading “But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.”

slant verb US /slænt/

lie obliquely

From this reading “First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.”

thirdly adverb US /ˈθɜːrdli/

in the third place

From this reading “First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.”

unequivocally adverb US /ˌʌniˈkwɪvəkəli/

in an unambiguous manner

From this reading “First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.”

All words in this reading · 97

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 What a soberizing effect that prospect produces on the mind.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

atticnounUS /ˈætɪk/

floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

atticsnounUS /ˈætɪks/

plural of “attic” — floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

blockedadjectiveUS /blɑːkt/

closed to traffic

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

callverbUS /kɔːl/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

cannot

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

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

canopynounUS /ˈkæn.ə.pi/

An overhead roof or structure, such as the high vaulted ceiling of an ancient library.

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

casenounUS /keɪs/

an occurrence of something

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

catchverbUS /kætʃ/

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

charmnounUS /tʃɑːrm/

attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

commonadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmən/

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

destroyedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɔɪd/

spoiled or ruined or demolished

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

effectnounUS /ɪˈfekt/

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading What a soberizing effect that prospect produces on the mind.

elevatedadjectiveUS /ˈeləveɪtɪd/

raised above the ground

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

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

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

facesnounUS /ˈfeɪsəz/

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

fobbed

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

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

fossenounUS /fɑːs/

ditch dug as a fortification and usually filled with water

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

glimpsenounUS /ɡlɪmps/

a quick look

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.

gutternounUS /ˈɡʌtər/

a channel along the eaves or on the roof; collects and carries away rainwater

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

House-Tops

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

From this reading The House-Tops!

humoredverbUS /ˈhjuːmərd/

past form of “humor” — put into a good mood

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

infatuatedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfætʃuːeɪtɪd/

marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

lastlyadverbUS /ˈlæstli/

the item at the end

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

leadenadjectiveUS /ˈledən/

darkened with overcast

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

lieverbUS /laɪ/

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

locatedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkeɪtəd/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

lodgingnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋ/

structures collectively in which people are housed

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

LondonersnounUS /ˈlʌndənərz/

plural of “londoner” — a native or resident of London

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading What a soberizing effect that prospect produces on the mind.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

neighborsnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/

plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading What a soberizing effect that prospect produces on the mind.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

parapets

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

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

pavementsnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənts/

plural of “pavement” — the paved surface of a thoroughfare

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

peepverbUS /piːp/

look furtively

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

perpendicularnounUS /ˌpɜːrpənˈdɪkjələr/

a straight line at right angles to another line

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.

producesnounUS /prəˈduːsəz/

plural of “produce” — fresh fruits and vegetable grown for the market

From this reading What a soberizing effect that prospect produces on the mind.

prospectnounUS /ˈprɑːspekt/

the possibility of future success

From this reading What a soberizing effect that prospect produces on the mind.

requisitesnounUS /ˈrekwəzəts/

plural of “requisite” — anything indispensable

From this reading But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.

roofnounUS /ruːf/

a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

secondlyadverbUS /ˈsekəndli/

in the second place

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

secureverbUS /sɪˈkjʊr/

get by special effort

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

selectionnounUS /səˈlekʃən/

the act of choosing or selecting

From this reading But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

slantverbUS /slænt/

lie obliquely

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

slightlyadverbUS /ˈslaɪtli/

to a small degree or extent

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

soberizing

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

From this reading What a soberizing effect that prospect produces on the mind.

streetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

surveynounUS /sərˈveɪ/

a detailed critical inspection

From this reading But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading What a soberizing effect that prospect produces on the mind.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The House-Tops!

thirdlyadverbUS /ˈθɜːrdli/

in the third place

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading But a great many requisites go towards the selection of the right point of survey.

unequivocallyadverbUS /ˌʌniˈkwɪvəkəli/

in an unambiguous manner

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What a soberizing effect that prospect produces on the mind.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/

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

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading It is not enough to secure a lodging in the attic; you must not be fobbed off with a front attic that faces the street.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading First, your attic must be unequivocally a back attic; secondly, the house in which it is located must be slightly elevated above its neighbors; thirdly, the window must not lie slant on the roof, as is common with attics,--in which case you can only catch a peep of that leaden canopy which infatuated Londoners call the sky,--but must be a window perpendicular, and not half blocked up by the parapets of that fosse called the gutter; and, lastly, the sight must be so humored that you cannot catch a glimpse of the pavements: if you once see the world beneath, the whole charm of that world above is destroyed.

Chapter 2 of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14 by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton holds 69 sentences, grouped into 14 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 2 of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14 contain?

Chapter 2 holds 69 sentences of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14 by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 69 sentences, grouped into 14 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 2 of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 14

Common questions about reading The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14 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 14?

Yes. All 585 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7599 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7599, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14 take to read?

About 48 minutes of reading across 117 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14 section by section

How to work through The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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

Vocabulary met early in The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Beautiful
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Singular
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Passage
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dante
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.