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The Uncommercial Traveller
The Uncommercial Traveller

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Uncommercial Traveller is here in full — 420 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Have you seen the state of their mouths, sir?’
If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.
I believe the sick could as soon have eaten the ship, as the ship’s provisions.
I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?
If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Uncommercial Traveller

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Uncommercial Traveller is here in full — 420 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Have you seen the state of their mouths, sir?’
/hæv juː siːn ðə steɪt ʌv ðer maʊðz sɜːr/
Line 2
If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.
/ɪf ðə ˈsɑːrdʒənt huː wɑːz ə mæn ʌv ə fjuː ˈɔːrdərli wɜːrdz hæd ˈspoʊkən ðə əˈmaʊnt ʌv ðɪs ˈvɑːljuːm hiː kʊd nɑːt hæv ˈsetəld ðæt ˈkwestʃən ˈbetər/
Line 3
I believe the sick could as soon have eaten the ship, as the ship’s provisions.
/aɪ bɪˈliːv ðə sɪk kʊd æz suːn hæv ˈiːtən ðə ʃɪp æz ðə ʃɪps prəˈvɪʒənz/
Line 4
I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?
Line 5
If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

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.

bartering verb US /ˈbɑːrtərɪŋ/

-ing form of “barter” — exchange goods without involving money

From this reading “I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?”

chartered adjective US /ˈtʃɑːrtərd/

hired for the exclusive temporary use of a group of travelers

From this reading “‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’”

Coroner's noun US /ˈkɔːrənərz/

possessive form of “coroner” — a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes

hammocks noun US /ˈhæməks/

plural of “hammock” — a small natural hill

From this reading “I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?”

nutritious adjective US /nuːˈtrɪʃəs/

of or providing nourishment

From this reading “I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?”

Pangloss noun US /ˈpænɡlɑːs/

an incurable optimist in a satire by Voltaire

From this reading “I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?”

Tasmania noun US /ˌtæzˈmeɪniə/

an Australian state on the island of Tasmania

From this reading “‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’”

vinegar noun US /ˈvɪnəɡər/

sour-tasting liquid produced usually by oxidation of the alcohol in wine or cider and used as a condiment or food preservative

From this reading “I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?”

All words in this reading · 120

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 If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

accommodationnounUS /əˌkɑːməˈdeɪʃən/

making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

additionaladjectiveUS /əˈdɪʃənəl/

further or added

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

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 I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

amountnounUS /əˈmaʊnt/

a quantity of money

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading I believe the sick could as soon have eaten the ship, as the ship’s provisions.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

askingnounUS /ˈæskɪŋ/

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

assertedadjectiveUS /əˈsɜːrtɪd/

confidently declared to be so

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

badadjectiveUS /bæd/

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

barteringverbUS /ˈbɑːrtərɪŋ/

-ing form of “barter” — exchange goods without involving money

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

becomingadjectiveUS /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/

according with custom or propriety

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

beernounUS /bɪr/

a general name for alcoholic beverages made by fermenting a cereal (or mixture of cereals) flavored with hops

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading I believe the sick could as soon have eaten the ship, as the ship’s provisions.

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

biscuitnounUS /ˈbɪskət/

small round bread leavened with baking-powder or soda

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

charteredadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɑːrtərd/

hired for the exclusive temporary use of a group of travelers

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

condemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/

past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

cookingnounUS /ˈkʊkɪŋ/

the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

Coroner'snounUS /ˈkɔːrənərz/

possessive form of “coroner” — a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

defencenounUS /dɪˈfens/

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

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

deliberatelyadverbUS /dɪˈlɪbərətli/

with intention; in an intentional manner

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

drinkingnounUS /ˈdrɪŋkɪŋ/

the act of consuming liquids

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

drunkadjectiveUS /drʌŋk/

stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

dunghillnoun

a foul or degraded condition

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

eatenverbUS /ˈiːtən/

inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food

From this reading I believe the sick could as soon have eaten the ship, as the ship’s provisions.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

foodnounUS /fuːd/

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

GeneraladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

gettingnounUS /ˈɡetɪŋ/

the act of acquiring something

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

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

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

GreatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

hammocksnounUS /ˈhæməks/

plural of “hammock” — a small natural hill

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/

used of persons; emotionally hardened

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ‘Have you seen the state of their mouths, sir?’

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I believe the sick could as soon have eaten the ship, as the ship’s provisions.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

InspectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈspekʃən/

a formal or official examination

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

jurynounUS /ˈdʒʊri/

a body of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in a court of law

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

libertynounUS /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

lime-juice

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

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

liquornounUS /ˈlɪkər/

an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

mouthsnounUS /maʊðz/

plural of “mouth” — the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading ‘Have you seen the state of their mouths, sir?’

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

nutritiousadjectiveUS /nuːˈtrɪʃəs/

of or providing nourishment

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ‘Have you seen the state of their mouths, sir?’

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

officersnounUS /ˈɔːfəsərz/

plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

orderlynounUS /ˈɔːrdərli/

a soldier who serves as an attendant to a superior officer

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

PanglossnounUS /ˈpænɡlɑːs/

an incurable optimist in a satire by Voltaire

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

peasnounUS /piːz/

plural of “pea” — seed of a pea plant used for food

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

poisonousadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪzənəs/

having the qualities or effects of a poison

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

provisionsnounUS /prəˈvɪʒənz/

a stock or supply of foods

From this reading I believe the sick could as soon have eaten the ship, as the ship’s provisions.

putrefactionnoun

a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

qualitiesnounUS /ˈkwɑːlətiz/

plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

refuseverbUS /rəˈfjuːz/

show unwillingness towards

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

relativenounUS /ˈrelətɪv/

a person related by blood or marriage

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

reportverbUS /riˈpɔːrt/

to give an account or representation of in words

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

ruinnounUS /ˈruːən/

an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading ‘Have you seen the state of their mouths, sir?’

sergeantnounUS /ˈsɑːrdʒənt/

any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

settledadjectiveUS /ˈsetəld/

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

shipverbUS /ʃɪp/

transport commercially

From this reading I believe the sick could as soon have eaten the ship, as the ship’s provisions.

ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/

possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight

From this reading I believe the sick could as soon have eaten the ship, as the ship’s provisions.

sickadjectiveUS /sɪk/

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading I believe the sick could as soon have eaten the ship, as the ship’s provisions.

signingnounUS /ˈsaɪnɪŋ/

language expressed by visible hand gestures

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

sirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading ‘Have you seen the state of their mouths, sir?’

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading I believe the sick could as soon have eaten the ship, as the ship’s provisions.

spokenadjectiveUS /ˈspoʊkən/

uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

statenounUS /steɪt/

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading ‘Have you seen the state of their mouths, sir?’

supplyverbUS /səˈplaɪ/

give something useful or necessary to

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

TasmanianounUS /ˌtæzˈmeɪniə/

an Australian state on the island of Tasmania

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading ‘Have you seen the state of their mouths, sir?’

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading ‘Have you seen the state of their mouths, sir?’

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

troopsnounUS /truːps/

soldiers collectively

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

vegetablesnounUS /ˈvedʒtəbəlz/

plural of “vegetable” — edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

verminnounUS /ˈvɜːrmɪn/

an irritating or obnoxious person

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

vinegarnounUS /ˈvɪnəɡər/

sour-tasting liquid produced usually by oxidation of the alcohol in wine or cider and used as a condiment or food preservative

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

volumenounUS /ˈvɑːljuːm/

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

wholesomeadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊlsəm/

conducive to or characteristic of physical or moral well-being

From this reading ‘If not (I asked him), what did he say in defence of the officers condemned by the Coroner’s jury, who, by signing the General Inspection report relative to the ship Great Tasmania, chartered for these troops, had deliberately asserted all that bad and poisonous dunghill refuse, to be good and wholesome food?’

wishesnounUS /ˈwɪʃɪz/

plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I took the additional liberty with my friend Pangloss, when I had left the sergeant with good wishes, of asking Pangloss whether he had ever heard of biscuit getting drunk and bartering its nutritious qualities for putrefaction and vermin; of peas becoming hardened in liquor; of hammocks drinking themselves off the face of the earth; of lime-juice, vegetables, vinegar, cooking accommodation, water supply, and beer, all taking to drinking together and going to ruin?

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading If the sergeant, who was a man of a few orderly words, had spoken the amount of this volume, he could not have settled that question better.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading ‘Have you seen the state of their mouths, sir?’

Chapter 4 of The Uncommercial Traveller by Charles Dickens holds 420 sentences, grouped into 84 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 4 of The Uncommercial Traveller contain?

Chapter 4 holds 420 sentences of The Uncommercial Traveller, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Uncommercial Traveller by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 420 sentences, grouped into 84 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 4 of The Uncommercial Traveller?

Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 84 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 4 be read aloud to me?

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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 Uncommercial Traveller

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Vocabulary met early in The Uncommercial Traveller

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Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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