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The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02
The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02 is here in full — 269 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.
His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.
Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"
"Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.
True is the dream's beginning,-- So may its ending be!
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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 Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02 is here in full — 269 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.
Line 2
His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.
Line 3
Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"
Line 4
"Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.
Line 5
True is the dream's beginning,-- So may its ending be!

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.

baby's noun US /ˈbeɪbiz/

possessive form of “baby” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading “IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.”

icicles noun US /ˈaɪsɪkəlz/

plural of “icicle” — ice resembling a pendent spear, formed by the freezing of dripping water

From this reading “Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"”

Leyden noun US /ˈlaɪdən/

a city in the western Netherlands; residence of the Pilgrim Fathers for 11 years before they sailed for America in 1620

From this reading “"Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.”

thatched verb US /θætʃt/

past form of “thatch” — cover with thatch

From this reading “His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.”

thawing noun US /ˈθɔːɪŋ/

the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid

From this reading “His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.”

unfolding noun US /ənˈfoʊldɪŋ/

a developmental process

From this reading “"Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.”

whooping verb US /ˈwuːpɪŋ/

-ing form of “whoop” — shout, as if with joy or enthusiasm

From this reading “IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.”

winter's noun US /ˈwɪntərz/

possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading “"Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.”

All words in this reading · 121

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 His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/

in the past

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

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 IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

AlongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/

weapons considered collectively

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

baby'snounUS /ˈbeɪbiz/

possessive form of “baby” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

baldadjectiveUS /bɔːld/

with no effort to conceal

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

bareadjectiveUS /ber/

completely unclothed

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading True is the dream's beginning,-- So may its ending be!

beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading True is the dream's beginning,-- So may its ending be!

BeholdverbUS /bɪˈhoʊld/

see with attention

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

bloudy

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

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

cabinnounUS /ˈkæbən/

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

casementnoun

a window sash that is hinged (usually on one side)

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

cladadjectiveUS /klæd/

wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

ComeverbUS /kʌm/

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

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

dream's

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

From this reading True is the dream's beginning,-- So may its ending be!

drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/

lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

endingnounUS /ˈendɪŋ/

the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)

From this reading True is the dream's beginning,-- So may its ending be!

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

EvenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

feebleadjectiveUS /ˈfiːbəl/

pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

flashedverbUS /flæʃt/

past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

flownounUS /floʊ/

the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

freezingnounUS /ˈfriːzɪŋ/

the withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

fro

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

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

gentlyadverbUS /ˈdʒentli/

in a gradual manner

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

glazedadjectiveUS /ɡleɪzd/

(used of eyes) lacking liveliness

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

God-be-Glorified

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

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

grassverbUS /ɡræs/

shoot down, of birds

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

hatnounUS /hæt/

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/

an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

hitheradverbUS /ˈhɪðər/

an old word meaning “to this place”

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

holenounUS /hoʊl/

an opening into or through something

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

hungryadjectiveUS /ˈhʌŋɡri/

feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

icenounUS /aɪs/

water frozen in the solid state

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

iciclesnounUS /ˈaɪsɪkəlz/

plural of “icicle” — ice resembling a pendent spear, formed by the freezing of dripping water

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading True is the dream's beginning,-- So may its ending be!

ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

jerkinnoun

a tight sleeveless and collarless jacket (often made of leather) worn by men in former times

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

kneenounUS /niː/

hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

knifenounUS /naɪf/

edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/

an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

leathern

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

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

LeydennounUS /ˈlaɪdən/

a city in the western Netherlands; residence of the Pilgrim Fathers for 11 years before they sailed for America in 1620

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

limbsnounUS /lɪmz/

plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

logverbUS /lɔːɡ/

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

lurkedverbUS /lɜːrkt/

past form of “lurk” — lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading True is the dream's beginning,-- So may its ending be!

murmuredverbUS /ˈmɜːrmərd/

past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

o'eradverb

throughout a period of time

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

Pecksuot's

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

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

picturedadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərd/

seen in the mind as a mental image

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

PilgrimnounUS /ˈpɪlɡrəm/

someone who journeys in foreign lands

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/

being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

ratnounUS /ræt/

any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

roofnounUS /ruːf/

a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

Salvages

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

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

seanounUS /siː/

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

servedverbUS /sɜːrvd/

past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

shadowsnounUS /ˈʃædoʊz/

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

shoutverbUS /ʃaʊt/

utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

sireverbUS /ˈsaɪər/

make (offspring) by reproduction

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

sitverbUS /sɪt/

be seated

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

smote

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

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

spake

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

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

stormyadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːrmi/

(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

stoutadjectiveUS /staʊt/

dependable

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

streamsnounUS /striːmz/

plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

thatchedverbUS /θætʃt/

past form of “thatch” — cover with thatch

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

thawingnounUS /ˈθɔːɪŋ/

the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

theepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

TooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

treesnounUS /triːz/

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

TrueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading True is the dream's beginning,-- So may its ending be!

twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

unfoldingnounUS /ənˈfoʊldɪŋ/

a developmental process

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Along the dreary landscape His eyes went to and fro, The trees all clad in icicles, The streams that did not flow; A sudden thought flashed o'er him,-- A dream of long ago,-- He smote his leathern jerkin, And murmured, "Even so!"

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

Whereof

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

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

whereon

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

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

whoopingverbUS /ˈwuːpɪŋ/

-ing form of “whoop” — shout, as if with joy or enthusiasm

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

winter'snounUS /ˈwɪntərz/

possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading "Come hither, God-be-Glorified, And sit upon my knee; Behold the dream unfolding, Whereof I spake to thee By the winter's hearth in Leyden And on the stormy sea.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading His home was a freezing cabin, Too bare for the hungry rat; Its roof was thatched with ragged grass, And bald enough of that; The hole that served for casement Was glazed with an ancient hat, And the ice was gently thawing From the log whereon he sat.

Wituwamet's

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

From this reading IN the hour of twilight shadows The Pilgrim sire looked out; He thought of the "bloudy Salvages" That lurked all round about, Of Wituwamet's pictured knife And Pecksuot's whooping shout; For the baby's limbs were feeble, Though his father's arms were stout.

Chapter 1 of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02 by Oliver Wendell Holmes holds 269 sentences, grouped into 54 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 Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02 contain?

Chapter 1 holds 269 sentences of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02, unabridged, divided into 54 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02 by Oliver Wendell Holmes exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 269 sentences, grouped into 54 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 Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02?

Work through the 54 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 54 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 Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02

Common questions about reading The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02 by Oliver Wendell Holmes on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02?

Yes. All 546 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7389 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7389, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02 take to read?

About 45 minutes of reading across 110 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02 section by section

How to work through The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 2 chapters of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02 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 Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Twilight
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shadows
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pilgrim
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Looked
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 02; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.