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The Life and Most Surprising Adventures
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Life and Most Surprising Adventures is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Life and Most Surprising Adventures
Context Illustration Reading 64/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.
When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.
I have no creature, no soul to speak to; none to beg assistance from.
Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.
GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.
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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 Life and Most Surprising Adventures

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Life and Most Surprising Adventures is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 64/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 316–320

Line 1
My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.
/maɪ kloʊðz ˈæftər sʌm taɪm wɪl biː wɔːrn aʊt ənd ðen aɪ ʃæl hæv nʌn tuː ˈkʌvər miː/
Line 2
When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.
/wen maɪ ˌæmjəˈnɪʃən ɪz ˈweɪstɪd ðen ʃæl aɪ rɪˈmeɪn wɪˈθaʊt ˈeni dɪˈfens əˈɡenst waɪld men ənd biːsts/
Line 3
I have no creature, no soul to speak to; none to beg assistance from.
/aɪ hæv noʊ ˈkriːtʃər noʊ soʊl tuː spiːk tuː nʌn tuː beɡ əˈsɪstəns frʌm/
Line 4
Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.
/sʌm ˈkʌmfərt wʊd ɪt biː tuː ˌriːˈsaʊnd maɪ woʊz wer aɪ æm ˌʌndərˈstʊd ənd beɡ əˈsɪstəns wer aɪ maɪt hoʊp fɔːr rɪˈliːf/
Line 5
GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.
/ɡʊd bʌt jet aɪ æm prəˈzɜːrvd waɪl maɪ kəmˈpænjənz ɑːr ˈperɪʃt ɪn ðə ˈreɪdʒɪŋ ˈoʊʃən/

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.

ammunition noun US /ˌæmjəˈnɪʃən/

projectiles to be fired from a gun

From this reading “When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.”

defence noun US /dɪˈfens/

(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires

From this reading “When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.”

perished verb US /ˈperɪʃt/

past form of “perish” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading “GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.”

preserved adjective US /prəˈzɜːrvd/

prevented from decaying or spoiling and prepared for future use

From this reading “GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.”

raging adjective US /ˈreɪdʒɪŋ/

characterized by violent and forceful activity or movement; very intense

From this reading “GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.”

resound verb US /ˌriːˈsaʊnd/

ring or echo with sound

From this reading “Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.”

wasted adjective US /ˈweɪstɪd/

serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being

From this reading “When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.”

woes noun US /woʊz/

plural of “woe” — misery resulting from affliction

From this reading “Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.”

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.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.

ammunitionnounUS /ˌæmjəˈnɪʃən/

projectiles to be fired from a gun

From this reading When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.

assistancenounUS /əˈsɪstəns/

the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

From this reading I have no creature, no soul to speak to; none to beg assistance from.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

beastsnounUS /biːsts/

plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.

begverbUS /beɡ/

call upon in supplication; entreat

From this reading I have no creature, no soul to speak to; none to beg assistance from.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.

clothesnounUS /kloʊðz/

clothing in general

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

comfortnounUS /ˈkʌmfərt/

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.

companionsnounUS /kəmˈpænjənz/

plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.

coververbUS /ˈkʌvər/

provide with a covering or cause to be covered

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

creaturenounUS /ˈkriːtʃər/

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading I have no creature, no soul to speak to; none to beg assistance from.

defencenounUS /dɪˈfens/

(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires

From this reading When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I have no creature, no soul to speak to; none to beg assistance from.

GOODadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading I have no creature, no soul to speak to; none to beg assistance from.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

oceannounUS /ˈoʊʃən/

a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

From this reading GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

perishedverbUS /ˈperɪʃt/

past form of “perish” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.

preservedadjectiveUS /prəˈzɜːrvd/

prevented from decaying or spoiling and prepared for future use

From this reading GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.

ragingadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdʒɪŋ/

characterized by violent and forceful activity or movement; very intense

From this reading GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.

reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/

the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

From this reading Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.

remainverbUS /rɪˈmeɪn/

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.

resoundverbUS /ˌriːˈsaʊnd/

ring or echo with sound

From this reading Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading I have no creature, no soul to speak to; none to beg assistance from.

speakverbUS /spiːk/

express in speech

From this reading I have no creature, no soul to speak to; none to beg assistance from.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

understoodadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈstʊd/

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.

wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/

serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being

From this reading When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.

wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading When my ammunition is wasted, then shall I remain without any defence against wild men and beasts.

woesnounUS /woʊz/

plural of “woe” — misery resulting from affliction

From this reading Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.

wornverbUS /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading My clothes after some time will be worn out; and then I shall have none to cover me.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Some comfort would it be to resound my woes where I am understood, and beg assistance where I might hope for relief.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading GOOD But yet I am preserved, while my companions are perished in the raging ocean.

Chapter 1 of The Life and Most Surprising Adventures by Daniel Defoe holds 411 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Life and Most Surprising Adventures contain?

Chapter 1 holds 411 sentences of The Life and Most Surprising Adventures, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Life and Most Surprising Adventures by Daniel Defoe exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 411 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Life and Most Surprising Adventures?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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 Life and Most Surprising Adventures

Common questions about reading The Life and Most Surprising Adventures by Daniel Defoe on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Life and Most Surprising Adventures?

Yes. All 2877 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #11866 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Life and Most Surprising Adventures is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #11866, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Life and Most Surprising Adventures take to read?

About 239 minutes of reading across 576 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Life and Most Surprising Adventures section by section

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  1. Open a chapter

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Life and Most Surprising Adventures

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Life and Most Surprising Adventures, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Editorial
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Life and Most Surprising Adventures; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Notes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Life and Most Surprising Adventures; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Daniel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Life and Most Surprising Adventures; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Defoe's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Life and Most Surprising Adventures; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.