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The Great Return
The Great Return

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Great Return is here in full — 75 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Great Return
Context Illustration Reading 1/15 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.
D.P.M.
There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.
I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.
It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.
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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 Great Return

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Great Return is here in full — 75 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/15 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.
Line 2
D.P.M.
Line 3
There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.
/ðer ɑːr streɪndʒ θɪŋz lɔːst ənd fərˈɡɑːt.n̩ ɪn əbsˈkjʊr ˈkɔːrnərz ʌv ðə ˈnuːzpeɪpər/
Line 4
I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.
/aɪ ˈɔːfən θɪŋk ðæt ðə moʊst ˌekstrəˈɔːrdəneri ˈaɪtəm ʌv ˌɪnˈtelədʒəns ðæt aɪ hæv red ɪn prɪnt əˈpɪrd ə fjuː jɪrz əˈɡoʊ ɪn ðə ˈlʌndən pres/
Line 5
It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.
/ɪt keɪm frʌm ə wel noʊn ənd moʊst rɪˈspektɪd nuːz ˈeɪdʒənsi aɪ ˌɪˈmædʒən ɪt wɑːz ɪn ɔːl ðə ˈpeɪpərz/

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.

agency noun US /ˈeɪdʒənsi/

an administrative unit of government

From this reading “It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.”

corners noun US /ˈkɔːrnərz/

plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area

From this reading “There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.”

item noun US /ˈaɪtəm/

a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list

From this reading “I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.”

newspaper noun US /ˈnuːzpeɪpər/

a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements

From this reading “There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.”

obscure verb US /əbsˈkjʊr/

make less visible or unclear

From this reading “There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.”

print noun US /prɪnt/

the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication

From this reading “I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.”

respected adjective US /rɪˈspektɪd/

receiving deferential regard

From this reading “It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.”

strand noun US /strænd/

a pattern forming a unity within a larger structural whole

From this reading “PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.”

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.

obscure corners verb + noun counted as “obscure corner”

In this reading “There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.”

most extraordinary adverb + adjective

In this reading “I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.”

few years adjective + noun

In this reading “I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.”

well known adverb + adjective

In this reading “It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.”

most respected adverb + adjective

In this reading “It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.”

strange things adjective + noun

In this reading “There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.”

came from verb + particle counted as “come from”

In this reading “It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.”

All words in this reading · 57

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 PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

agencynounUS /ˈeɪdʒənsi/

an administrative unit of government

From this reading It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.

agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/

in the past

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

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 It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.

appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/

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

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

BUCKINGHAM

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

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

CnounUS /siː/

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.

cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/

plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area

From this reading There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.

DnounUS /diː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets

From this reading D.P.M.

extraordinaryadjectiveUS /ˌekstrəˈɔːrdəneri/

beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

FAITHnounUS /feɪθ/

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

HOUSEnounUS /haʊs/

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

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

imagineverbUS /ˌɪˈmædʒən/

form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

intelligencenounUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒəns/

the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.

itemnounUS /ˈaɪtəm/

a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.

LONDONnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.

MnounUS /em/

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading D.P.M.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

newsnounUS /nuːz/

information about recent and important events

From this reading It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.

newspapernounUS /ˈnuːzpeɪpər/

a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements

From this reading There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.

obscureverbUS /əbsˈkjʊr/

make less visible or unclear

From this reading There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.

oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

PnounUS /piː/

a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms

From this reading D.P.M.

papersnounUS /ˈpeɪpərz/

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

From this reading It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.

PRESSverbUS /pres/

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

printnounUS /prɪnt/

the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

PUBLISHEDadjectiveUS /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

respectedadjectiveUS /rɪˈspektɪd/

receiving deferential regard

From this reading It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.

STRANDnounUS /strænd/

a pattern forming a unity within a larger structural whole

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

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

From this reading There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.

STREETnounUS /striːt/

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

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading There are strange things lost and forgotten in obscure corners of the newspaper.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

WnounUS /ˈdʌbəljuː/

a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite

From this reading PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY THE FAITH PRESS, AT THE FAITH HOUSE, 22, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading It came from a well known and most respected news agency; I imagine it was in all the papers.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading I often think that the most extraordinary item of intelligence that I have read in print appeared a few years ago in the London Press.

Chapter 1 of The Great Return by Arthur Machen holds 75 sentences, grouped into 15 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 Great Return contain?

Chapter 1 holds 75 sentences of The Great Return, unabridged, divided into 15 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Great Return by Arthur Machen exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 75 sentences, grouped into 15 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 Great Return?

Work through the 15 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 15 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 Great Return

Common questions about reading The Great Return by Arthur Machen on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Great Return?

Yes. All 511 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #35611 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Great Return is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #35611, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Great Return take to read?

About 42 minutes of reading across 103 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Great Return section by section

How to work through The Great Return section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 7 chapters of The Great Return 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 Great Return

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Great Return, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Published
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Great Return; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
London
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Great Return; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Faith
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Great Return; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Press
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Great Return; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.