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The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1
The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1 is here in full — 390 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Walter Scott • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1
Context Illustration Reading 1/78 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART.
_VOL.
I._ EDITOR'S PREFACE.
The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.
If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.
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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 Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1 is here in full — 390 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/78 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART.
/sɜːr ˈwɔːltər skɑːt bɑːrt/
Line 2
_VOL.
Line 3
I._ EDITOR'S PREFACE.
/aɪ ˈedɪtərz ˈprefəs/
Line 4
The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.
Line 5
If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

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.

bart noun US /bɑːrt/

a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight

From this reading “SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Browne noun US /braʊn/

English illustrator of several of Dickens' novels (1815-1882)

From this reading “The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
deserves verb US /dɪˈzɜːrvz/

third-person singular of “deserve” — be worthy or deserving

From this reading “If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Dryden noun US /ˈdraɪdən/

the outstanding poet and dramatist of the Restoration (1631-1700)

From this reading “If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
editor's noun US /ˈedɪtərz/

possessive form of “editor” — a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)

From this reading “I._ EDITOR'S PREFACE.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
preface noun US /ˈprefəs/

a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

From this reading “I._ EDITOR'S PREFACE.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
revision noun US /riˈvɪʒən/

the act of revising or altering (involving reconsideration and modification)

From this reading “If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Scott's noun US /skɑːts/

possessive form of “scott” — award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)

From this reading “If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 46

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 If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BARTnounUS /bɑːrt/

a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight

From this reading SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
best-edited

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

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

Pending verification
booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

Velmora curated lexicon
BrownenounUS /braʊn/

English illustrator of several of Dickens' novels (1815-1882)

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cannot

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

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

Pending verification
certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
challengeverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒ/

take exception to

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
creditnounUS /ˈkredət/

approval

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
deservesverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrvz/

third-person singular of “deserve” — be worthy or deserving

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DrydennounUS /ˈdraɪdən/

the outstanding poet and dramatist of the Restoration (1631-1700)

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
editionnounUS /əˈdɪʃən/

the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EDITOR'SnounUS /ˈedɪtərz/

possessive form of “editor” — a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)

From this reading I._ EDITOR'S PREFACE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EnglishnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
highestadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪəst/

superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I._ EDITOR'S PREFACE.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
languagenounUS /ˈlæŋɡwədʒ/

a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PREFACEnounUS /ˈprefəs/

a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

From this reading I._ EDITOR'S PREFACE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
revisionnounUS /riˈvɪʒən/

the act of revising or altering (involving reconsideration and modification)

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
scalenounUS /skeɪl/

an ordered reference standard

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SCOTTnounUS /skɑːt/

award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)

From this reading SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Scott'snounUS /skɑːts/

possessive form of “scott” — award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SIRnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Southeynoun

English poet and friend of Wordsworth and Coleridge (1774-1843)

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
textnounUS /tekst/

the words of something written

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading If Sir Walter Scott's "Dryden" cannot challenge this highest position, it certainly deserves the credit of being one of the best-edited books on a great scale in English, save in one particular,--the revision of the text.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThomasnounUS /ˈtɑːməs/

United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
VOL

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

From this reading _VOL.

Pending verification
WALTERnounUS /ˈwɔːltər/

German conductor (1876-1962)

From this reading SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Wilkin's

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

From this reading The best-edited book in the English language is, according to Southey, Wilkin's edition of Sir Thomas Browne.

Pending verification

Chapter 1 of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1 by Walter Scott holds 390 sentences, grouped into 78 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 1 of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1 contain?

Chapter 1 holds 390 sentences of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1, unabridged, divided into 78 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1 by Walter Scott exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 390 sentences, grouped into 78 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 1 of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1?

Work through the 78 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 78 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1

Common questions about reading The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1 by Walter Scott on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1?

Yes. All 3812 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #11623 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #11623, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1 take to read?

About 317 minutes of reading across 763 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1 section by section

How to work through The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 10 chapters of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1 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 Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Walter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Scott
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Editor's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Preface
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dramatic Works of John Dryden — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.