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The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow
The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow is here in full — 213 sentences across 43 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka) Jerome • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.
First printing published August 17, 1898.
Second printing published September 2, 1898.
Third printing published November 1, 1898.
Fourth printing published January 1, 1899.
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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 Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow is here in full — 213 sentences across 43 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.
Line 2
First printing published August 17, 1898.
Line 3
Second printing published September 2, 1898.
Line 4
Third printing published November 1, 1898.
Line 5
Fourth printing published January 1, 1899.

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.

August noun US /ˈɑːɡəst/

the month following July and preceding September

From this reading “First printing published August 17, 1898.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Fourth noun US /fɔːrθ/

following the third position; number four in a countable series

From this reading “Fourth printing published January 1, 1899.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
January noun US /ˈdʒænjuːeri/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading “Fourth printing published January 1, 1899.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
jerome noun US /dʒərˈoʊm/

(Roman Catholic Church) one of the great Fathers of the early Christian Church whose major work was his translation of the Scriptures from Hebrew and Greek into Latin (which became the Vulgate); a saint and Doctor of the Church (347-420)

From this reading “The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
November noun US /noʊˈvembər/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading “Third printing published November 1, 1898.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
printing noun US /ˈprɪntɪŋ/

text handwritten in the style of printed matter

From this reading “First printing published August 17, 1898.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
published adjective US /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading “First printing published August 17, 1898.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
September noun US /sepˈtembər/

the month following August and preceding October

From this reading “Second printing published September 2, 1898.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 34

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.

1

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

From this reading Third printing published November 1, 1898.

Pending verification
17

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

From this reading First printing published August 17, 1898.

Pending verification
1898

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

From this reading First printing published August 17, 1898.

Pending verification
1899

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

From this reading Fourth printing published January 1, 1899.

Pending verification
2

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

From this reading Second printing published September 2, 1898.

Pending verification
AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AndeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AugustnounUS /ˈɑːɡəst/

the month following July and preceding September

From this reading First printing published August 17, 1898.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BOATnounUS /boʊt/

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ETC

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

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

Pending verification
FellownounUS /ˈfeloʊ/

a boy or man

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading First printing published August 17, 1898.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FourthnounUS /fɔːrθ/

following the third position; number four in a countable series

From this reading Fourth printing published January 1, 1899.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IdleadjectiveUS /ˈaɪdəl/

not in action or at work

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
INGERFIELD

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

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

Pending verification
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading Fourth printing published January 1, 1899.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
JEROMEnounUS /dʒərˈoʊm/

(Roman Catholic Church) one of the great Fathers of the early Christian Church whose major work was his translation of the Scriptures from Hebrew and Greek into Latin (which became the Vulgate); a saint and Doctor of the Church (347-420)

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
JOHNnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
KnounUS /keɪ/

the basic unit of thermodynamic temperature adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MENnounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading Third printing published November 1, 1898.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
printingnounUS /ˈprɪntɪŋ/

text handwritten in the style of printed matter

From this reading First printing published August 17, 1898.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
publishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading First printing published August 17, 1898.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SecondnounUS /ˈsekənd/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/

the month following August and preceding October

From this reading Second printing published September 2, 1898.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STAGELAND

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

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

Pending verification
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThirdnounUS /θɜːrd/

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading Third printing published November 1, 1898.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ThoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THREEnounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow BY JEROME K. JEROME AUTHOR OF ‘THREE MEN IN A BOAT,’ ‘IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW,’ ‘STAGELAND,’ ‘JOHN INGERFIELD,’ ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 1 of The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow by Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka) Jerome holds 213 sentences, grouped into 43 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 Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow contain?

Chapter 1 holds 213 sentences of The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow, unabridged, divided into 43 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow by Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka) Jerome exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 213 sentences, grouped into 43 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 Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow?

Work through the 43 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 43 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 Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow

Common questions about reading The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow by Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka) Jerome on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow?

Yes. All 4043 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1915 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1915, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow take to read?

About 336 minutes of reading across 809 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow section by section

How to work through The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 20 chapters of The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow 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 Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Second
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Thoughts
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fellow
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Jerome
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.