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The diary of Delia
The diary of Delia

Chapter XXVI

Chapter 26 of The diary of Delia is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The diary of Delia
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.
“My God!” ses I aloud, “is it snowing in Orgust.”
Thin I seen Mr. John.
He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.
I throwed up me hands in horrow.
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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 XXVI

Chapter 26 of The diary of Delia is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.
Line 2
“My God!” ses I aloud, “is it snowing in Orgust.”
Line 3
Thin I seen Mr. John.
/θɪn aɪ siːn ˈmɪstər dʒɑːn/
Line 4
He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.
Line 5
I throwed up me hands in horrow.

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.

dish noun US /dɪʃ/

a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food

From this reading “He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.”

greeted verb US /ˈɡriːtəd/

past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone

From this reading “A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.”

holes noun US /hoʊlz/

plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something

From this reading “He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.”

pans noun US /pænz/

plural of “pan” — cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel

From this reading “He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.”

scattering noun US /ˈskætərɪŋ/

a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly

From this reading “He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.”

site noun US /saɪt/

the piece of land on which something is located (or is to be located)

From this reading “A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.”

snowing verb US /ˈsnoʊɪŋ/

-ing form of “snow” — fall as snow

From this reading ““My God!” ses I aloud, “is it snowing in Orgust.””

wen noun US /wen/

a common cyst of the skin; filled with fatty matter (sebum) that is secreted by a sebaceous gland that has been blocked

From this reading “A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.”

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.

open the door verb + article + noun counted as “open … door”

In this reading “A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.”

from the bottom preposition + article + noun counted as “from … bottom”

In this reading “He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.”

All words in this reading · 58

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 A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

aloudadverbUS /əˈlaʊd/

using the voice; not silently

From this reading “My God!” ses I aloud, “is it snowing in Orgust.”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/

the lower side of anything

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

dishnounUS /dɪʃ/

a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

fer

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

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading “My God!” ses I aloud, “is it snowing in Orgust.”

greetedverbUS /ˈɡriːtəd/

past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

holesnounUS /hoʊlz/

plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

horrow

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

From this reading I throwed up me hands in horrow.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “My God!” ses I aloud, “is it snowing in Orgust.”

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “My God!” ses I aloud, “is it snowing in Orgust.”

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Thin I seen Mr. John.

LATERadverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

marnin

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

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Thin I seen Mr. John.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “My God!” ses I aloud, “is it snowing in Orgust.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

Orgust

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

From this reading “My God!” ses I aloud, “is it snowing in Orgust.”

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

pansnounUS /pænz/

plural of “pan” — cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

papersnounUS /ˈpeɪpərz/

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

scatteringnounUS /ˈskætərɪŋ/

a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

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

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Thin I seen Mr. John.

ses

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

From this reading “My God!” ses I aloud, “is it snowing in Orgust.”

sitenounUS /saɪt/

the piece of land on which something is located (or is to be located)

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

snowingverbUS /ˈsnoʊɪŋ/

-ing form of “snow” — fall as snow

From this reading “My God!” ses I aloud, “is it snowing in Orgust.”

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

sumthing

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

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

tak

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

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

ThinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Thin I seen Mr. John.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

throwed

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

From this reading I throwed up me hands in horrow.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading I throwed up me hands in horrow.

WEEKnounUS /wiːk/

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

wennounUS /wen/

a common cyst of the skin; filled with fatty matter (sebum) that is secreted by a sebaceous gland that has been blocked

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

wint

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

From this reading A WEEK LATER This marnin’ wen I wint to open the door to tak in the papers a strange site greeted me eyes.

wun

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

From this reading He had wun of me dish pans in his hands and it seemed to be full of holes, fer sumthing white do be scattering from the bottom of it all over the place.

Chapter 26 of The diary of Delia by Onoto Watanna holds 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 26 of The diary of Delia contain?

Chapter 26 holds 141 sentences of The diary of Delia, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 26 of The diary of Delia by Onoto Watanna exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 26 of The diary of Delia?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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 26 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 26 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.