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Tom, Dick and Harriet
Tom, Dick and Harriet

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of Tom, Dick and Harriet is here in full — 147 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Ralph Henry Barbour • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Tom, Dick and Harriet
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.
The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.
The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.
Dick would have preferred a date about the last of May could he have had his choice.
Five of the more promising members of the team were members of the base-ball nine as well, and Dick had that fact to bear in mind.
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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.

Tom, Dick and Harriet

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of Tom, Dick and Harriet is here in full — 147 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.
Line 2
The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.
Line 3
The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.
Line 4
Dick would have preferred a date about the last of May could he have had his choice.
/dɪk wʊd hæv prəˈfɜːrd ə deɪt əˈbaʊt ðə læst ʌv meɪ kʊd hiː hæv hæd hɪz tʃɔɪs/
Line 5
Five of the more promising members of the team were members of the base-ball nine as well, and Dick had that fact to bear in mind.

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.

afternoons noun US /ˌæftərˈnuːnz/

plural of “afternoon” — the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading “The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
alacrity noun US /əˈlækrəti/

liveliness and eagerness

From this reading “THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dual adjective US /ˈduːəl/

consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs

From this reading “THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Ferry verb US /ˈferi/

transport from one place to another

From this reading “THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Hill's noun US /hɪlz/

possessive form of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
looted adjective US /ˈluːtəd/

wrongfully emptied or stripped of anything of value

From this reading “THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
oval noun US /ˈoʊvəl/

a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it

From this reading “THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
treasury noun US /ˈtreʒəri/

the funds of a government or institution or individual

From this reading “THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

with alacrity preposition + noun

In this reading “THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.”

1,980 times in 225,867 chapters
meet with verb + particle

In this reading “THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.”

36,033 times in 225,867 chapters

All words in this reading · 74

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.

12

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

From this reading The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.

Pending verification
16

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

From this reading The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.

Pending verification
adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Dick would have preferred a date about the last of May could he have had his choice.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
acceptedadjectiveUS /ækˈseptɪd/

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
afternoonsnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːnz/

plural of “afternoon” — the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
alacritynounUS /əˈlækrəti/

liveliness and eagerness

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
base-ball

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

From this reading The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.

Pending verification
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
bearverbUS /ber/

have

From this reading Five of the more promising members of the team were members of the base-ball nine as well, and Dick had that fact to bear in mind.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
challengeverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒ/

take exception to

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
choicenounUS /tʃɔɪs/

the person or thing chosen or selected

From this reading The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Dick would have preferred a date about the last of May could he have had his choice.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
datenounUS /deɪt/

the specified day of the month

From this reading Dick would have preferred a date about the last of May could he have had his choice.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
datesnounUS /deɪts/

plural of “date” — the specified day of the month

From this reading The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DicknounUS /dɪk/

someone who is a detective

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
didn't

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

From this reading The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.

Pending verification
dualadjectiveUS /ˈduːəl/

consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
explainedverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnd/

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
factnounUS /fækt/

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading Five of the more promising members of the team were members of the base-ball nine as well, and Dick had that fact to bear in mind.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FerryverbUS /ˈferi/

transport from one place to another

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FivenounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading Five of the more promising members of the team were members of the base-ball nine as well, and Dick had that fact to bear in mind.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Hammond

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

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Pending verification
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Dick would have preferred a date about the last of May could he have had his choice.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Dick would have preferred a date about the last of May could he have had his choice.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
heldadjectiveUS /held/

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Hill'snounUS /hɪlz/

possessive form of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Dick would have preferred a date about the last of May could he have had his choice.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hopedverbUS /hoʊpt/

past form of “hope” — expect and wish

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JunenounUS /dʒuːn/

the month following May and preceding July

From this reading The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading Dick would have preferred a date about the last of May could he have had his choice.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LOOTEDadjectiveUS /ˈluːtəd/

wrongfully emptied or stripped of anything of value

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
managernounUS /ˈmænədʒər/

someone who controls resources and expenditures

From this reading The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
meetsnounUS /miːts/

plural of “meet” — a meeting at which a number of athletic contests are held

From this reading The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
membersnounUS /ˈmembərz/

plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading Five of the more promising members of the team were members of the base-ball nine as well, and Dick had that fact to bear in mind.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Five of the more promising members of the team were members of the base-ball nine as well, and Dick had that fact to bear in mind.

Velmora curated lexicon
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Five of the more promising members of the team were members of the base-ball nine as well, and Dick had that fact to bear in mind.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ninenounUS /naɪn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one

From this reading Five of the more promising members of the team were members of the base-ball nine as well, and Dick had that fact to bear in mind.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
offeredverbUS /ˈɔːfərd/

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ovalnounUS /ˈoʊvəl/

a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/

more desirable than another

From this reading Dick would have preferred a date about the last of May could he have had his choice.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
promisingadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːməsɪŋ/

showing possibility of achievement or excellence

From this reading Five of the more promising members of the team were members of the base-ball nine as well, and Dick had that fact to bear in mind.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SaturdaynounUS /ˈsætərdi/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
suggestedverbUS /səˈdʒestɪd/

past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
teamnounUS /tiːm/

a cooperative unit (especially in sports)

From this reading The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tracknounUS /træk/

a line or route along which something travels or moves

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TREASURYnounUS /ˈtreʒəri/

the funds of a government or institution or individual

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading The Hammond manager explained that on other Saturday afternoons either the track team had meets or the oval would be in use by the base-ball team.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The only thing that Dick didn’t like was the choice of dates offered, May 12 and June 16.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
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 Five of the more promising members of the team were members of the base-ball nine as well, and Dick had that fact to bear in mind.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Five of the more promising members of the team were members of the base-ball nine as well, and Dick had that fact to bear in mind.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading THE TREASURY IS LOOTED Hammond accepted Ferry Hill’s challenge to a dual track meet with alacrity, and, as Dick had hoped they would, suggested that it be held on the Hammond oval.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 17 of Tom, Dick and Harriet by Ralph Henry Barbour holds 147 sentences, grouped into 30 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 17 of Tom, Dick and Harriet contain?

Chapter 17 holds 147 sentences of Tom, Dick and Harriet, unabridged, divided into 30 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of Tom, Dick and Harriet by Ralph Henry Barbour exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 147 sentences, grouped into 30 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 17 of Tom, Dick and Harriet?

Work through the 30 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 30 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 Tom, Dick and Harriet

Common questions about reading Tom, Dick and Harriet by Ralph Henry Barbour on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Tom, Dick and Harriet?

Yes. All 4383 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #54747 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Tom, Dick and Harriet is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #54747, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Tom, Dick and Harriet take to read?

About 365 minutes of reading across 877 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Tom, Dick and Harriet section by section

How to work through Tom, Dick and Harriet section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 22 chapters of Tom, Dick and Harriet 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 Tom, Dick and Harriet

Words and structures a reader meets early in Tom, Dick and Harriet, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Meeting
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom, Dick and Harriet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Almost
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom, Dick and Harriet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Weather
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom, Dick and Harriet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hudson
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom, Dick and Harriet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.