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Torchy As A Pa
Torchy As A Pa

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of Torchy As A Pa is here in full — 269 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Torchy As A Pa
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.
Queered myself with Auntie.
Vee's, of course.
You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.
But somehow we seldom hit it off just right.
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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.

Torchy As A Pa

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of Torchy As A Pa is here in full — 269 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.
Line 2
Queered myself with Auntie.
Line 3
Vee's, of course.
Line 4
You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.
Line 5
But somehow we seldom hit it off just right.
/bʌt ˈsʌmhaʊ wiː ˈseldəm hɪt ɪt ɔːf dʒʌst raɪt/

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.

auntie noun US /ˈænti/

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading “NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.”

elbows noun US /ˈelboʊz/

plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped

From this reading “You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.”

expect verb US /ɪkˈspekt/

regard something as probable or likely

From this reading “NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.”

handle verb US /ˈhændəl/

be in charge of, act on, or dispose of

From this reading “You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.”

hit verb US /hɪt/

cause to move by striking

From this reading “But somehow we seldom hit it off just right.”

luck noun US /lʌk/

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading “NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.”

seldom adverb US /ˈseldəm/

not often

From this reading “But somehow we seldom hit it off just right.”

somehow adverb US /ˈsʌmhaʊ/

in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means

From this reading “But somehow we seldom hit it off just right.”

All words in this reading · 54

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

AUNTIEnounUS /ˈænti/

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But somehow we seldom hit it off just right.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Vee's, of course.

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.

elbowsnounUS /ˈelboʊz/

plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/

regard something as probable or likely

From this reading NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.

handleverbUS /ˈhændəl/

be in charge of, act on, or dispose of

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

hitverbUS /hɪt/

cause to move by striking

From this reading But somehow we seldom hit it off just right.

how

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

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.

I'd

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

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

I've

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

From this reading NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading But somehow we seldom hit it off just right.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

LUCKnounUS /lʌk/

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Queered myself with Auntie.

NOdeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Vee's, of course.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

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

From this reading But somehow we seldom hit it off just right.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

Queered

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

From this reading Queered myself with Auntie.

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading But somehow we seldom hit it off just right.

rubbin

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

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

seldomadverbUS /ˈseldəm/

not often

From this reading But somehow we seldom hit it off just right.

somehowadverbUS /ˈsʌmhaʊ/

in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means

From this reading But somehow we seldom hit it off just right.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

Vee's

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

From this reading Vee's, of course.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading But somehow we seldom hit it off just right.

we've

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

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

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 NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.

WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading NO LUCK WITH AUNTIE Well, I expect I've gone and done it again.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

You'd

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

From this reading You'd most think I'd know how to handle the old girl by this time, for we've been rubbin' elbows, as you might say, for quite a few years now.

Chapter 17 of Torchy As A Pa by Sewell Ford holds 269 sentences, grouped into 54 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 Torchy As A Pa contain?

Chapter 17 holds 269 sentences of Torchy As A Pa, unabridged, divided into 54 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of Torchy As A Pa by Sewell Ford exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 269 sentences, grouped into 54 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 Torchy As A Pa?

Work through the 54 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 54 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 Torchy As A Pa

Common questions about reading Torchy As A Pa by Sewell Ford on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Torchy As A Pa?

Yes. All 5794 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #20629 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Torchy As A Pa is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #20629, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Torchy As A Pa take to read?

About 482 minutes of reading across 1159 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Torchy As A Pa section by section

How to work through Torchy As A Pa section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 20 chapters of Torchy As A Pa 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 Torchy As A Pa

Words and structures a reader meets early in Torchy As A Pa, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Forget
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Torchy As A Pa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rummagin'
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Torchy As A Pa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Drawer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Torchy As A Pa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Writin'
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Torchy As A Pa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.