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The Weavers — Volume 2
The Weavers — Volume 2

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Weavers — Volume 2 is here in full — 344 sentences across 69 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Weavers — Volume 2
Context Illustration Reading 1/68 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:
David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.
Does thee love them still?
They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.
Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.
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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 Weavers — Volume 2

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Weavers — Volume 2 is here in full — 344 sentences across 69 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/68 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:
Line 2
David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.
/ˈdeɪvɪd aɪ raɪt ðiː frʌm ðə ˈvɪlədʒ ənd ðə lænd ʌv ðə ˈpiːpəl wɪtʃ ðaʊ dɪdst wʌns lʌv soʊ wel/
Line 3
Does thee love them still?
/dʌz ðiː lʌv ðem stɪl/
Line 4
They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.
/ðeɪ ɡeɪv ðiː ˈsaʊər bred tuː iːt er ðaɪ ˈɡoʊɪŋ bʌt jet ðiː dɪdst ɡraɪnd ðə ˈflaʊər fɔːr ðə ˈbeɪkɪŋ/
Line 5
Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.
/ðiː dɪdst ˈfraɪtən ɔːl huː nuː ðiː wɪð ðaɪ ˈduːɪŋz ðæt mæd ˈmɪdˈsʌmər taɪm/

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.

baking noun US /ˈbeɪkɪŋ/

making bread or cake or pastry etc.

From this reading “They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.”

Cairo noun US /ˈkaɪroʊ/

a town at the southern tip of Illinois at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

From this reading “Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:”

doings noun US /ˈduːɪŋz/

manner of acting or controlling yourself

From this reading “Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.”

flour noun US /ˈflaʊər/

fine powdery foodstuff obtained by grinding and sifting the meal of a cereal grain

From this reading “They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.”

frighten verb US /ˈfraɪtən/

cause fear in

From this reading “Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.”

grind verb US /ɡraɪnd/

press or grind with a crushing noise

From this reading “They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.”

midsummer noun US /ˈmɪdˈsʌmər/

June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point

From this reading “Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.”

sour verb US /ˈsaʊər/

go sour or spoil

From this reading “They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.”

All words in this reading · 57

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.

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 Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

bakingnounUS /ˈbeɪkɪŋ/

making bread or cake or pastry etc.

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

breadnounUS /bred/

food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

CaironounUS /ˈkaɪroʊ/

a town at the southern tip of Illinois at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

Claridge

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

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

DavidnounUS /ˈdeɪvɪd/

patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

didstauxiliary verbUS /dɪdst/

an old form of “did”, used with “thou”

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

Doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Does thee love them still?

doingsnounUS /ˈduːɪŋz/

manner of acting or controlling yourself

From this reading Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.

eatverbUS /iːt/

take in solid food

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

ereconjunctionUS /er/

an old word for “before”

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

FaithnounUS /feɪθ/

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

flournounUS /ˈflaʊər/

fine powdery foodstuff obtained by grinding and sifting the meal of a cereal grain

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

frightenverbUS /ˈfraɪtən/

cause fear in

From this reading Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

grindverbUS /ɡraɪnd/

press or grind with a crushing noise

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

Hamley

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

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

knewverbUS /nuː/

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 Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.

landnounUS /lænd/

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

madadjectiveUS /mæd/

roused to anger

From this reading Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.

midsummernounUS /ˈmɪdˈsʌmər/

June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point

From this reading Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.

monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

sourverbUS /ˈsaʊər/

go sour or spoil

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading Does thee love them still?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

theepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Does thee love them still?

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

thydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Some months later the following letter came to David Claridge in Cairo from Faith Claridge in Hamley:

villagenounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Thee didst frighten all who knew thee with thy doings that mad midsummer time.

writeverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading David, I write thee from the village and the land of the people which thou didst once love so well.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading They gave thee sour bread to eat ere thy going, but yet thee didst grind the flour for the baking.

Chapter 1 of The Weavers — Volume 2 by Gilbert Parker holds 344 sentences, grouped into 69 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 Weavers — Volume 2 contain?

Chapter 1 holds 344 sentences of The Weavers — Volume 2, unabridged, divided into 69 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Weavers — Volume 2 by Gilbert Parker exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 344 sentences, grouped into 69 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 Weavers — Volume 2?

Work through the 69 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 69 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 Weavers — Volume 2

Common questions about reading The Weavers — Volume 2 by Gilbert Parker on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Weavers — Volume 2?

Yes. All 3046 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6262 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Weavers — Volume 2 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #6262, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Weavers — Volume 2 take to read?

About 253 minutes of reading across 610 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Weavers — Volume 2 section by section

How to work through The Weavers — Volume 2 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 10 chapters of The Weavers — Volume 2 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 Weavers — Volume 2

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Weavers — Volume 2, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Months
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Weavers — Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Later
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Weavers — Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Following
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Weavers — Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Letter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Weavers — Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.