Chapter 1 of The Runaway is here in full — 76 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Runaway is here in full — 76 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
ADVENTURES OF RODNEY ROVERTON. "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat." CRABBE. APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION. BOSTON: NEW ENGLAND SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.
Chapter 1 of The Runaway is here in full — 76 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/15 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
established by authority; given authoritative approval
From this reading “APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.”
deprive somebody of something by deceit
From this reading “"He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."”
past form of “deem” — keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
From this reading “"He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."”
someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions
From this reading “"He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."”
a copy of a printed work offered for distribution
From this reading “APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.”
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading “"He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."”
a day of rest and worship: Sunday for most Christians; Saturday for the Jews and a few Christians; Friday for Muslims
From this reading “BOSTON: NEW ENGLAND SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.”
a wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support
From this reading “"He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading ADVENTURES OF RODNEY ROVERTON.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
established by authority; given authoritative approval
From this reading APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading BOSTON: NEW ENGLAND SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.
put or send forth
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
deprive somebody of something by deceit
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CRABBE.
past form of “deem” — keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading BOSTON: NEW ENGLAND SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading BOSTON: NEW ENGLAND SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ADVENTURES OF RODNEY ROVERTON.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
a copy of a printed work offered for distribution
From this reading APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ADVENTURES OF RODNEY ROVERTON.
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ADVENTURES OF RODNEY ROVERTON.
a day of rest and worship: Sunday for most Christians; Saturday for the Jews and a few Christians; Friday for Muslims
From this reading BOSTON: NEW ENGLAND SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.
an educational institution
From this reading BOSTON: NEW ENGLAND SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
an organization of employees formed to bargain with the employer
From this reading BOSTON: NEW ENGLAND SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.
a wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
an old word meaning “to where”
From this reading "He cast his bundle on his back, and went, He knew not whither, nor for what intent; So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat, To rove a prowler, and be deemed a cheat."
Chapter 1 of The Runaway by Unknown holds 76 sentences, grouped into 16 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.
Chapter 1 holds 76 sentences of The Runaway, unabridged, divided into 16 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Runaway by Unknown exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 76 sentences, grouped into 16 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.
Work through the 16 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 16 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.
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.
Common questions about reading The Runaway by Unknown on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Runaway section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 0 chapters of The Runaway to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Runaway, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
