The Primrose Path

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Primrose Path is here in full — 74 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 1 of The Primrose Path by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant holds 74 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 Primrose Path contain?

Chapter 1 holds 74 sentences of The Primrose Path, unabridged, divided into 15 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Primrose Path by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 74 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 Primrose Path?

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 Primrose Path

Common questions about reading The Primrose Path by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Primrose Path?

Yes. All 9379 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #65458 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Primrose Path is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #65458, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Primrose Path take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1876 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Primrose Path section by section

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

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Primrose Path to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in The Primrose Path

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

Chapter: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Primrose Path; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Annals: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Primrose Path; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Kingdom: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Primrose Path; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chronicles: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Primrose Path; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Cover illustration for The Primrose Path

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

A Chapter in the Annals of the Kingdom of Fife “THE CHRONICLES OF CARLINGFORD” “AGNES” “A SON OF THE SOIL” “CARITÀ” “FOR LOVE AND LIFE” “MISS MARJORIBANKS” “INNOCENT” &c.

“A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

--“the primrose path of dalliance!”

HAMLET, _Act I., Scene III._ BY MRS.

OLIPHANT.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter I Reading 1/15

The Primrose Path

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Primrose Path is here in full — 74 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1

A Chapter in the Annals of the Kingdom of Fife “THE CHRONICLES OF CARLINGFORD” “AGNES” “A SON OF THE SOIL” “CARITÀ” “FOR LOVE AND LIFE” “MISS MARJORIBANKS” “INNOCENT” &c.

Line 2

“A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

Line 3

--“the primrose path of dalliance!”

Line 4

HAMLET, _Act I., Scene III._ BY MRS.

Line 5

OLIPHANT.

All words in this reading · 47

Every word is available to listen to. 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 A Chapter in the Annals of the Kingdom of Fife “THE CHRONICLES OF CARLINGFORD” “AGNES” “A SON OF THE SOIL” “CARITÀ” “FOR LOVE AND LIFE” “MISS MARJORIBANKS” “INNOCENT” &c.

Act

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

From this reading HAMLET, _Act I., Scene III._ BY MRS.

AGNES

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

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

Annals

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

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading HAMLET, _Act I., Scene III._ BY MRS.

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

CARITÀ

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

CARLINGFORD

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

Chapter

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

CHRONICLES

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

dalliance

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

From this reading --“the primrose path of dalliance!”

Fife

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

FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

Forward

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

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

HAMLET

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

From this reading HAMLET, _Act I., Scene III._ BY MRS.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading HAMLET, _Act I., Scene III._ BY MRS.

III

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

From this reading HAMLET, _Act I., Scene III._ BY MRS.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

INNOCENT

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

Kingdom

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

lasting

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

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

LIFE

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

LOVE

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

MARJORIBANKS

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

minute

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

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

MISS

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

more

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

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

MRS

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

From this reading HAMLET, _Act I., Scene III._ BY MRS.

nature

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

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

OLIPHANT

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

From this reading OLIPHANT.

path

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

From this reading --“the primrose path of dalliance!”

perfume

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

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

permanent

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

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

primrose

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

From this reading --“the primrose path of dalliance!”

primy

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

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

Scene

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

From this reading HAMLET, _Act I., Scene III._ BY MRS.

SOIL

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

SON

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

suppliance

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

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

sweet

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

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

violet

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

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

youth

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

From this reading “A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.”

Chapter I

What does chapter 1 of The Primrose Path contain?

How do I study chapter 1 of The Primrose Path?

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Questions about reading The Primrose Path

How to read The Primrose Path section by section

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Vocabulary met early in The Primrose Path