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The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870
The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870 is here in full — 387 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870
Context Illustration Reading 1/77 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.
Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.
I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.
Absurdly unnecessary to say that it would be a makeshift!
But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870 is here in full — 387 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/77 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.
/dɪˈsmɪs ðæt fɪr ɪf juː hæv ɪt ˌɔːltəˈɡeðər frʌm jɔːr maɪnd/
Line 2
Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.
/raɪt tuː miː æt ˈperɪs æt ˈeni ˈmoʊmənt ənd seɪ juː ɑːr əˈniːkwəl tuː jɔːr wɜːrk ənd wɑːnt miː ənd aɪ wɪl kʌm tuː ˈlʌndən streɪt ənd duː jɔːr wɜːrk/
Line 3
I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.
/aɪ æm kwaɪt ˈkɑːnfədənt ðæt wɪð jɔːr noʊts ənd ə fjuː wɜːrdz ʌv ˌekspləˈneɪʃən aɪ kʊd teɪk ɪt ʌp æt ˈeni taɪm ənd duː ɪt/
Line 4
Absurdly unnecessary to say that it would be a makeshift!
/əbˈsɜːrdli ənˈnesəseri tuː seɪ ðæt ɪt wʊd biː ə ˈmeɪkʃɪft/
Line 5
But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.
/bʌt aɪ kʊd duː ɪt æt ə pɪntʃ soʊ laɪk juː æz ðæt noʊ wʌn ʃʊd faɪnd aʊt ðə ˈdɪfərəns/

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.

Absurdly adverb US /əbˈsɜːrdli/

in an absurd manner or to an absurd degree

From this reading “Absurdly unnecessary to say that it would be a makeshift!”

confident adjective US /ˈkɑːnfədənt/

having or marked by confidence or assurance

From this reading “I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.”

Dismiss verb US /dɪˈsmɪs/

bar from attention or consideration

From this reading “Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.”

explanation noun US /ˌekspləˈneɪʃən/

a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

From this reading “I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.”

makeshift adjective US /ˈmeɪkʃɪft/

done or made using whatever is available

From this reading “Absurdly unnecessary to say that it would be a makeshift!”

pinch verb US /pɪntʃ/

squeeze tightly between the fingers

From this reading “But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.”

unequal adjective US /əˈniːkwəl/

poorly balanced or matched in quantity or value or measure

From this reading “Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.”

unnecessary adjective US /ənˈnesəseri/

not necessary

From this reading “Absurdly unnecessary to say that it would be a makeshift!”

All words in this reading · 61

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 I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

AbsurdlyadverbUS /əbˈsɜːrdli/

in an absurd manner or to an absurd degree

From this reading Absurdly unnecessary to say that it would be a makeshift!

altogetheradverbUS /ˌɔːltəˈɡeðər/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Absurdly unnecessary to say that it would be a makeshift!

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

confidentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnfədənt/

having or marked by confidence or assurance

From this reading I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

differencenounUS /ˈdɪfərəns/

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.

DismissverbUS /dɪˈsmɪs/

bar from attention or consideration

From this reading Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

explanationnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃən/

a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

From this reading I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

fearverbUS /fɪr/

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.

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 am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.

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 Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

makeshiftadjectiveUS /ˈmeɪkʃɪft/

done or made using whatever is available

From this reading Absurdly unnecessary to say that it would be a makeshift!

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.

notesnounUS /noʊts/

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.

ParisnounUS /ˈperɪs/

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

pinchverbUS /pɪntʃ/

squeeze tightly between the fingers

From this reading But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.

straightadjectiveUS /streɪt/

successive (without a break)

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But I could do it at a pinch, so like you as that no one should find out the difference.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

unequaladjectiveUS /əˈniːkwəl/

poorly balanced or matched in quantity or value or measure

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

unnecessaryadjectiveUS /ənˈnesəseri/

not necessary

From this reading Absurdly unnecessary to say that it would be a makeshift!

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading I am quite confident that, with your notes and a few words of explanation, I could take it up at any time and do it.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Absurdly unnecessary to say that it would be a makeshift!

WriteverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading Write to me at Paris at any moment, and say you are unequal to your work, and want me, and I will come to London straight and do your work.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Dismiss that fear (if you have it) altogether from your mind.

Chapter 8 of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870 by Charles Dickens holds 387 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 8 of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870 contain?

Chapter 8 holds 387 sentences of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870, unabridged, divided into 78 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870 by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 387 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 8 of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870?

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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870

Common questions about reading The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870 by Charles Dickens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870?

Yes. All 7232 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #25853 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #25853, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870 take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1447 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870 section by section

How to work through The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 18 chapters of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870 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 Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Reader
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Things
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Handwritten
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Denoted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.