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The Witches of New York
The Witches of New York

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Witches of New York is here in full — 14 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Witches of New York
Context Illustration Reading 1/2 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Q. K. PHILANDER DOESTICKS, P. B.
NEW YORK: RUDD & CARLETON, 310 BROADWAY.
MDCCCLIX.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.
R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.
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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 Witches of New York

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Witches of New York is here in full — 14 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/2 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Q. K. PHILANDER DOESTICKS, P. B.
Line 2
NEW YORK: RUDD & CARLETON, 310 BROADWAY.
Line 3
MDCCCLIX.
Line 4
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.
Line 5
R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

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.

broadway noun US /ˈbrɔːdweɪ/

a street in Manhattan that passes through Times Square; famous for its theaters

From this reading “NEW YORK: RUDD & CARLETON, 310 BROADWAY.”

Carton noun US /ˈkɑːrtən/

the quantity contained in a carton

From this reading “R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.”

Clerk's noun US /klɜːrks/

possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

Congress noun US /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/

the legislature of the United States government

From this reading “Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.”

District noun US /ˈdɪstrɪkt/

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading “Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.”

philander verb US /fəˈlændər/

have amorous affairs; of men

From this reading “Q. K. PHILANDER DOESTICKS, P. B.”

Printer noun US /ˈprɪntər/

someone whose occupation is printing

From this reading “R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.”

rudd noun US /rʌd/

European freshwater fish resembling the roach

From this reading “NEW YORK: RUDD & CARLETON, 310 BROADWAY.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

Act of verb + particle

In this reading “Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.”

in the year preposition + article + noun counted as “in … year”

In this reading “Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.”

All words in this reading · 45

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.

1858

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

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

310

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

From this reading NEW YORK: RUDD & CARLETON, 310 BROADWAY.

81

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

From this reading R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

83

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

From this reading R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

85

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

From this reading R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

ActverbUS /ækt/

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

BnounUS /biː/

aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil

From this reading Q. K. PHILANDER DOESTICKS, P. B.

BROADWAYnounUS /ˈbrɔːdweɪ/

a street in Manhattan that passes through Times Square; famous for its theaters

From this reading NEW YORK: RUDD & CARLETON, 310 BROADWAY.

BuildingnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋ/

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

CARLETON

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

From this reading NEW YORK: RUDD & CARLETON, 310 BROADWAY.

CartonnounUS /ˈkɑːrtən/

the quantity contained in a carton

From this reading R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

CentrenounUS /ˈsentər/

a low-lying region in central France

From this reading R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

Clerk'snounUS /klɜːrks/

possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

CongressnounUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/

the legislature of the United States government

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

CourtnounUS /kɔːrt/

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

CRAIGHEAD

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

From this reading R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

DistrictnounUS /ˈdɪstrɪkt/

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

DOESTICKS

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

From this reading Q. K. PHILANDER DOESTICKS, P. B.

Electrotyper

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

From this reading R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

EnteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

KnounUS /keɪ/

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

From this reading Q. K. PHILANDER DOESTICKS, P. B.

MDCCCLIX

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

From this reading MDCCCLIX.

NEWadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading NEW YORK: RUDD & CARLETON, 310 BROADWAY.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

OfficenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

PnounUS /piː/

a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms

From this reading Q. K. PHILANDER DOESTICKS, P. B.

PHILANDERverbUS /fəˈlændər/

have amorous affairs; of men

From this reading Q. K. PHILANDER DOESTICKS, P. B.

PrinternounUS /ˈprɪntər/

someone whose occupation is printing

From this reading R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

QnounUS /kjuː/

the 17th letter of the Roman alphabet

From this reading Q. K. PHILANDER DOESTICKS, P. B.

RnounUS /ɑːr/

a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air

From this reading R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

RUDDnounUS /rʌd/

European freshwater fish resembling the roach

From this reading NEW YORK: RUDD & CARLETON, 310 BROADWAY.

SouthernadjectiveUS /ˈsʌðərn/

in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

StatesnounUS /steɪts/

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

Stereotyper

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

From this reading R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

StreetnounUS /striːt/

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

From this reading R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Carton Building, _81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by RUDD & CARLETON, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

YORKnounUS /jɔːrk/

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading NEW YORK: RUDD & CARLETON, 310 BROADWAY.

Chapter 1 of The Witches of New York by Q. K. Philander Doesticks holds 14 sentences, grouped into 3 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 Witches of New York contain?

Chapter 1 holds 14 sentences of The Witches of New York, unabridged, divided into 3 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Witches of New York by Q. K. Philander Doesticks exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 14 sentences, grouped into 3 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 Witches of New York?

Work through the 3 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 3 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 Witches of New York

Common questions about reading The Witches of New York by Q. K. Philander Doesticks on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Witches of New York?

Yes. All 1713 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #31717 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Witches of New York is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #31717, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Witches of New York take to read?

About 142 minutes of reading across 343 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Witches of New York section by section

How to work through The Witches of New York section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 19 chapters of The Witches of New York 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 Witches of New York

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Witches of New York, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Philander
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Witches of New York; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Doesticks
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Witches of New York; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Carleton
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Witches of New York; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Broadway
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Witches of New York; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.