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The diary of Delia
The diary of Delia

Chapter XVIII

Chapter 18 of The diary of Delia is here in full — 132 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The diary of Delia
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.
I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.
I opened me dure and stuck me hed out.
The hole family were assimbled in the lower hall in their nite gowns.
Mr. John called up to me:
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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 diary of Delia

Chapter XVIII

Chapter 18 of The diary of Delia is here in full — 132 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.
Line 2
I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.
Line 3
I opened me dure and stuck me hed out.
Line 4
The hole family were assimbled in the lower hall in their nite gowns.
Line 5
Mr. John called up to me:
/ˈmɪstər dʒɑːn kɔːld ʌp tuː miː/

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.

bounding verb US /ˈbaʊndɪŋ/

-ing form of “bound” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading “I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.”

burglars noun US /ˈbɜːrɡlərz/

plural of “burglar” — a thief who enters a building with intent to steal

From this reading “I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.”

cum noun US /kʌm/

the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading “TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.”

gowns noun US /ɡaʊnz/

plural of “gown” — a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions

From this reading “The hole family were assimbled in the lower hall in their nite gowns.”

herd noun US /hɜːrd/

a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans

From this reading “I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.”

ringing noun US /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/

the sound of a bell ringing

From this reading “TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.”

stuck adjective US /stʌk/

caught or fixed

From this reading “I opened me dure and stuck me hed out.”

yells noun US /jelz/

plural of “yell” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition

From this reading “I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.”

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.

lower hall verb + noun

In this reading “The hole family were assimbled in the lower hall in their nite gowns.”

TWO DAYS noun + noun

In this reading “TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.”

All words in this reading · 53

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 TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

airned

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

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

assimbled

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

From this reading The hole family were assimbled in the lower hall in their nite gowns.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

bellnounUS /bel/

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

boundingverbUS /ˈbaʊndɪŋ/

-ing form of “bound” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

burglarsnounUS /ˈbɜːrɡlərz/

plural of “burglar” — a thief who enters a building with intent to steal

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

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

From this reading Mr. John called up to me:

cumnounUS /kʌm/

the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

DAYSnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

dure

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

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

familynounUS /ˈfæməli/

a social unit living together

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

frite

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

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

gownsnounUS /ɡaʊnz/

plural of “gown” — a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions

From this reading The hole family were assimbled in the lower hall in their nite gowns.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

hallnounUS /hɔːl/

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading The hole family were assimbled in the lower hall in their nite gowns.

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

hed

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

From this reading I opened me dure and stuck me hed out.

herdnounUS /hɜːrd/

a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

holenounUS /hoʊl/

an opening into or through something

From this reading The hole family were assimbled in the lower hall in their nite gowns.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

intyre

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

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Mr. John called up to me:

Larst

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

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

LATERadverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

lowerverbUS /ˈloʊər/

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading The hole family were assimbled in the lower hall in their nite gowns.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. John called up to me:

nite

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

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

nites

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

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading I opened me dure and stuck me hed out.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading I opened me dure and stuck me hed out.

retiredadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrd/

no longer active in your work or profession

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/

the sound of a bell ringing

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

slape

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

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

stuckadjectiveUS /stʌk/

caught or fixed

From this reading I opened me dure and stuck me hed out.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The hole family were assimbled in the lower hall in their nite gowns.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

thinkingnounUS /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Mr. John called up to me:

TWOnounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading Mr. John called up to me:

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The hole family were assimbled in the lower hall in their nite gowns.

whinnoun

very spiny and dense evergreen shrub with fragrant golden-yellow flowers; common throughout western Europe

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading TWO DAYS LATER Larst nite whin the intyre family had retired for there hard airned slape there cum a wild ringing at the dure bell.

yellsnounUS /jelz/

plural of “yell” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition

From this reading I herd it first in me slape and yells in frite, thinking of bounding nites and burglars.

Chapter 18 of The diary of Delia by Onoto Watanna holds 132 sentences, grouped into 27 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 18 of The diary of Delia contain?

Chapter 18 holds 132 sentences of The diary of Delia, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of The diary of Delia by Onoto Watanna exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 132 sentences, grouped into 27 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 18 of The diary of Delia?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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 18 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 18 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 diary of Delia

Common questions about reading The diary of Delia by Onoto Watanna on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The diary of Delia?

Yes. All 2061 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #61238 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The diary of Delia is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #61238, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The diary of Delia take to read?

About 171 minutes of reading across 413 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The diary of Delia section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 30 chapters of The diary of Delia 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 diary of Delia

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

Siven
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The diary of Delia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Washed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The diary of Delia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dressed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The diary of Delia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Kittle
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The diary of Delia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.