Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns
The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns is here in full — 384 sentences across 77 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns
Context Illustration Reading 1/76 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Gutta-Percha Willie, the Working Genius.
With 9 Illustrations by ARTHUR HUGHES.
Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.
By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.
[_In the press._ =Macquoid (Mrs.), Works by=:
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns is here in full — 384 sentences across 77 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/76 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Gutta-Percha Willie, the Working Genius.
Line 2
With 9 Illustrations by ARTHUR HUGHES.
Line 3
Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.
Line 4
By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.
Line 5
[_In the press._ =Macquoid (Mrs.), Works by=:

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.

Anecdotal adjective US /ˌænəkˈdoʊtəl/

having the character of an anecdote

From this reading “Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.”

bates verb US /beɪts/

third-person singular of “bate” — moderate or restrain; lessen the force of

From this reading “By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.”

Bibliographical adjective US /ˌbɪbliɑːˈɡrɑːfɪkəl/

relating to or dealing with bibliography

From this reading “Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.”

Biographical adjective US /ˌbaɪəˈɡræfɪkəl/

of or relating to or being biography

From this reading “Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.”

hughes noun US /hjuːz/

English poet (born in 1930)

From this reading “With 9 Illustrations by ARTHUR HUGHES.”

illustrative adjective US /ˌɪˈlʌstrətɪv/

clarifying by use of examples

From this reading “Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.”

Memoirs noun US /ˈmemwɑːrz/

plural of “memoir” — an account of the author's personal experiences

From this reading “Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.”

Tint noun US /tɪnt/

a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color

From this reading “By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

Literary Characters adjective + noun counted as “literary character”

In this reading “Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.”

Present Century verb + noun

In this reading “Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.”

All words in this reading · 64

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.

22

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

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

25

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

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

3

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

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

6

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

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

7

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

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

8

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

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

85

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

From this reading By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.

9

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

From this reading With 9 Illustrations by ARTHUR HUGHES.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

AnecdotaladjectiveUS /ˌænəkˈdoʊtəl/

having the character of an anecdote

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

ARTHURnounUS /ˈɑːrθər/

elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)

From this reading With 9 Illustrations by ARTHUR HUGHES.

BnounUS /biː/

aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil

From this reading By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.

BATESverbUS /beɪts/

third-person singular of “bate” — moderate or restrain; lessen the force of

From this reading By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.

BibliographicaladjectiveUS /ˌbɪbliɑːˈɡrɑːfɪkəl/

relating to or dealing with bibliography

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

BiographicaladjectiveUS /ˌbaɪəˈɡræfɪkəl/

of or relating to or being biography

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading With 9 Illustrations by ARTHUR HUGHES.

CenturynounUS /ˈsentʃəri/

a period of 100 years

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

CharactersnounUS /ˈkærəktərz/

plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

clothnounUS /klɔːθ/

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

CriticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/

marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

CrownnounUS /kraʊn/

the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

dnounUS /diː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/

more than is needed, desired, or required

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

formeradjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmər/

referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

GeniusnounUS /ˈdʒiːnjəs/

someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality

From this reading Gutta-Percha Willie, the Working Genius.

GeorgenounUS /dʒɔːrdʒ/

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

Gutta-Perchanoun

a whitish rubber derived from the coagulated milky latex of gutta-percha trees; used for insulation of electrical cables

From this reading Gutta-Percha Willie, the Working Genius.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

HUGHESnounUS /hjuːz/

English poet (born in 1930)

From this reading With 9 Illustrations by ARTHUR HUGHES.

IllustrationsnounUS /ˌɪləˈstreɪʃənz/

plural of “illustration” — artwork that helps make something clear or attractive

From this reading With 9 Illustrations by ARTHUR HUGHES.

illustrativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈlʌstrətɪv/

clarifying by use of examples

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

IllustriousadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈlʌstriəs/

widely known and esteemed

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading [_In the press._ =Macquoid (Mrs.), Works by=:

IndianounUS /ˈɪndiə/

a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947

From this reading By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.

LiteraryadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəreri/

of or relating to or characteristic of literature

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

LiteraturenounUS /ˈlɪtərətʃər/

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

Macdonald's

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

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

Maclise

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

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

Macquoid

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

From this reading [_In the press._ =Macquoid (Mrs.), Works by=:

MemoirsnounUS /ˈmemwɑːrz/

plural of “memoir” — an account of the author's personal experiences

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading [_In the press._ =Macquoid (Mrs.), Works by=:

NovelsnounUS /ˈnɑːvəlz/

plural of “novel” — an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.

Portrait-Gallery

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

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

PortraitsnounUS /ˈpɔːrtrəts/

plural of “portrait” — a word picture of a person's appearance and character

From this reading By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.

pp

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

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

PresentverbUS /ˈprezənt/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

pressverbUS /pres/

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading [_In the press._ =Macquoid (Mrs.), Works by=:

printedverbUS /ˈprɪntɪd/

past form of “print” — put into print

From this reading By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.

snounUS /es/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

SquareverbUS /skwer/

make square

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Gutta-Percha Willie, the Working Genius.

TintnounUS /tɪnt/

a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color

From this reading By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.

vo

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

From this reading Square 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._ *** _For George Macdonald's Novels, see pp. 22, 25._ Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7_s._ 6_d._ =Maclise Portrait-Gallery (The) of Illustrious= Literary Characters; with Memoirs, Biographical, Critical, Bibliographical, and Anecdotal, illustrative of the Literature of the former half of the Present Century.

WILLIAM

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

From this reading By WILLIAM BATES, B.A. With 85 Portraits printed on an India Tint.

Willie

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

From this reading Gutta-Percha Willie, the Working Genius.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With 9 Illustrations by ARTHUR HUGHES.

WorkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading Gutta-Percha Willie, the Working Genius.

WorksnounUS /wɜːrks/

buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading [_In the press._ =Macquoid (Mrs.), Works by=:

Chapter 17 of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns by Theodore Edward Hook holds 384 sentences, grouped into 77 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 17 of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns contain?

Chapter 17 holds 384 sentences of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns, unabridged, divided into 77 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns by Theodore Edward Hook exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 384 sentences, grouped into 77 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 17 of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns?

Work through the 77 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 77 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns

Common questions about reading The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns by Theodore Edward Hook on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns?

Yes. All 6438 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #50401 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #50401, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns take to read?

About 536 minutes of reading across 1288 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns section by section

How to work through The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns 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 Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Italic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Denoted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Underscores
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Equal
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.