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The White Christmas and other Merry
The White Christmas and other Merry

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The White Christmas and other Merry is here in full — 355 sentences across 71 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The White Christmas and other Merry
Context Illustration Reading 32/71 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.
_Enter_ JOSEPH _from rear L._ JOSEPH.
For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 White Christmas and other Merry

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The White Christmas and other Merry is here in full — 355 sentences across 71 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 32/71 · 5 reading units · Lines 156–160

Line 1
He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.
/hiː hæθ pʊt daʊn ðə ˈmaɪti frʌm ðer siːt ənd hæθ ɪɡˈzɔːltɪd ðə ˈhʌmbəl ənd miːk/
Line 2
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
/hiː hæθ fɪld ðə ˈhʌŋɡri wɪð ɡʊd θɪŋz ənd ðə rɪtʃ hiː hæθ sent ˈempti əˈweɪ/
Line 3
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.
Line 4
_Enter_ JOSEPH _from rear L._ JOSEPH.
/ˈentər ˈdʒoʊsəf frʌm rɪr el ˈdʒoʊsəf/
Line 5
For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

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.

Abraham noun US /ˈeɪbrəhæm/

the first of the Old Testament patriarchs and the father of Isaac; according to Genesis, God promised to give Abraham's family (the Hebrews) the land of Canaan (the Promised Land); God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son

From this reading “He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.”

exalted adjective US /ɪɡˈzɔːltɪd/

of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style

From this reading “He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.”

forefathers noun US /ˈfɔːrfɑːðərz/

plural of “forefather” — the founder of a family

From this reading “He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.”

fruitless adjective US /ˈfruːtləs/

unproductive of success

From this reading “For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.”

Israel noun US /ˈɪzriəl/

Jewish republic in southwestern Asia at eastern end of Mediterranean; formerly part of Palestine

From this reading “He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.”

meek adjective US /miːk/

humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness

From this reading “He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.”

quest noun US /kwest/

a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria

From this reading “For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.”

trudged verb US /trʌdʒd/

past form of “trudge” — walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud

From this reading “For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.”

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.

AbrahamnounUS /ˈeɪbrəhæm/

the first of the Old Testament patriarchs and the father of Isaac; according to Genesis, God promised to give Abraham's family (the Hebrews) the land of Canaan (the Promised Land); God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

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

From this reading He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

emptyverbUS /ˈempti/

make void or empty of contents

From this reading He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

EnterverbUS /ˈentər/

to come or go into

From this reading _Enter_ JOSEPH _from rear L._ JOSEPH.

exaltedadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzɔːltɪd/

of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style

From this reading He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

filledadjectiveUS /fɪld/

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

forefathersnounUS /ˈfɔːrfɑːðərz/

plural of “forefather” — the founder of a family

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

foreveradverbUS /fərˈevər/

for a limitless time

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

fruitlessadjectiveUS /ˈfruːtləs/

unproductive of success

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

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

From this reading He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

hathauxiliary verbUS /hæθ/

an old form of “has”

From this reading He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

HereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

holpen

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

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

humbleadjectiveUS /ˈhʌmbəl/

low or inferior in station or quality

From this reading He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

hungryadjectiveUS /ˈhʌŋɡri/

feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food

From this reading He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

I've

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

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

innnounUS /ɪn/

a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

IsraelnounUS /ˈɪzriəl/

Jewish republic in southwestern Asia at eastern end of Mediterranean; formerly part of Palestine

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

JOSEPHnounUS /ˈdʒoʊsəf/

leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)

From this reading _Enter_ JOSEPH _from rear L._ JOSEPH.

LnounUS /el/

a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)

From this reading _Enter_ JOSEPH _from rear L._ JOSEPH.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

mayhapadverb

by chance

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

meekadjectiveUS /miːk/

humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness

From this reading He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

mercynounUS /ˈmɜːrsi/

leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

mightyadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪti/

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

promisedverbUS /ˈprɑːməst/

past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

questnounUS /kwest/

a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

rearnounUS /rɪr/

the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading _Enter_ JOSEPH _from rear L._ JOSEPH.

rememberingnounUS /rɪˈmembərɪŋ/

the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

richadjectiveUS /rɪtʃ/

possessing material wealth

From this reading He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

seatnounUS /siːt/

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

seednounUS /siːd/

a small hard fruit

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

servantnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənt/

a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

streetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

trudgedverbUS /trʌdʒd/

past form of “trudge” — walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

we'll

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

From this reading For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Chapter 1 of The White Christmas and other Merry by Walter Ben Hare holds 355 sentences, grouped into 71 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 White Christmas and other Merry contain?

Chapter 1 holds 355 sentences of The White Christmas and other Merry, unabridged, divided into 71 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The White Christmas and other Merry by Walter Ben Hare exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 355 sentences, grouped into 71 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 White Christmas and other Merry?

Work through the 71 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 71 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 White Christmas and other Merry

Common questions about reading The White Christmas and other Merry by Walter Ben Hare on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The White Christmas and other Merry?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The White Christmas and other Merry is used?

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

How long does The White Christmas and other Merry take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The White Christmas and other Merry section by section

How to work through The White Christmas and other Merry section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  3. Listen and tap

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Vocabulary met early in The White Christmas and other Merry

Words and structures a reader meets early in The White Christmas and other Merry, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The White Christmas and other Merry, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The White Christmas and other Merry, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.