Chapter 1 of The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749) and Two is here in full — 285 sentences across 57 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749) and Two is here in full — 285 sentences across 57 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
(II, 4) 12. Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch. (III, 4) Third Year (1948-1949) 13. Sir John Falstaff (pseud.), _The Theatre_ (1720). (IV, 1) 14.
Chapter 1 of The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749) and Two is here in full — 285 sentences across 57 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 53/57 · 5 reading units · Lines 261–265
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.
plural of “essay” — an analytic or interpretive literary composition
From this reading “Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.”
a dissolute character in Shakespeare's plays
From this reading “Sir John Falstaff (pseud.), _The Theatre_ (1720).”
the act of beginning something new
From this reading “Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.”
leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)
From this reading “Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.”
chosen in preference to another
From this reading “Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.”
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading “Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.”
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading “Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (IV, 1) 14.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (II, 4) 12.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (III, 4) Third Year (1948-1949) 13.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (IV, 1) 14.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir John Falstaff (pseud.), _The Theatre_ (1720).
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (III, 4) Third Year (1948-1949) 13.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (III, 4) Third Year (1948-1949) 13.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (II, 4) 12.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.
plural of “essay” — an analytic or interpretive literary composition
From this reading Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.
a dissolute character in Shakespeare's plays
From this reading Sir John Falstaff (pseud.), _The Theatre_ (1720).
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading (II, 4) 12.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading (III, 4) Third Year (1948-1949) 13.
the act of beginning something new
From this reading Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading (IV, 1) 14.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Sir John Falstaff (pseud.), _The Theatre_ (1720).
leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)
From this reading Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.
a person who makes deceitful pretenses
From this reading Sir John Falstaff (pseud.), _The Theatre_ (1720).
chosen in preference to another
From this reading Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.
term of address for a man
From this reading Sir John Falstaff (pseud.), _The Theatre_ (1720).
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading Sir John Falstaff (pseud.), _The Theatre_ (1720).
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading (III, 4) Third Year (1948-1949) 13.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading (III, 4) Third Year (1948-1949) 13.
Chapter 1 of The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749) and Two by Samuel Johnson holds 285 sentences, grouped into 57 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 285 sentences of The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749) and Two, unabridged, divided into 57 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749) and Two by Samuel Johnson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 285 sentences, grouped into 57 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 57 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 57 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 Vanity of Human Wishes (1749) and Two by Samuel Johnson on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 285 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #13350 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #13350, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 23 minutes of reading across 57 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749) and Two section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749) and Two 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 Vanity of Human Wishes (1749) and Two, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
