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Unnatural death
Unnatural death

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Unnatural death is here in full — 113 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Unnatural death
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.
_Married_ 1935, Harriet Deborah Vane, _daughter of_ Henry Vane, M.D.; one _son_ (Bredon Delagardie Peter) _born_ 1936.
_Educated_: Eton College and Balliol College, (1st class honours), Sch. of Mod.
Hist.
1912; served with H.M. Forces 1914/18 (Major, Rifle Brigade).
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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.

Unnatural death

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Unnatural death is here in full — 113 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.
Line 2
_Married_ 1935, Harriet Deborah Vane, _daughter of_ Henry Vane, M.D.; one _son_ (Bredon Delagardie Peter) _born_ 1936.
Line 3
_Educated_: Eton College and Balliol College, (1st class honours), Sch. of Mod.
Line 4
Hist.
Line 5
1912; served with H.M. Forces 1914/18 (Major, Rifle Brigade).

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.

Bellingham noun US /ˈbelɪŋhæm/

a town in northwestern Washington on a bay near the Canadian border

From this reading “WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.”

Brigade noun US /brəˈɡeɪd/

army unit smaller than a division

From this reading “1912; served with H.M. Forces 1914/18 (Major, Rifle Brigade).”

Denver noun US /ˈdenvər/

the state capital and largest city of Colorado; located in central Colorado on the South Platte river

From this reading “WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.”

Educated adjective US /ˈedʒəkeɪtɪd/

possessing an education (especially having more than average knowledge)

Manor noun US /ˈmænər/

the mansion of a lord or wealthy person

From this reading “WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.”

Mod noun US /mɔːd/

a British teenager or young adult in the 1960s; noted for their clothes consciousness and opposition to the rockers

From this reading “_Educated_: Eton College and Balliol College, (1st class honours), Sch. of Mod.”

Mortimer noun US /ˈmɔːrtɪmər/

English nobleman who deposed Edward II and was executed by Edward III (1287-1330)

From this reading “WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.”

Vane noun US /veɪn/

mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind

From this reading “_Married_ 1935, Harriet Deborah Vane, _daughter of_ Henry Vane, M.D.; one _son_ (Bredon Delagardie Peter) _born_ 1936.”

All words in this reading · 55

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.

15th

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

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

18

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

From this reading 1912; served with H.M. Forces 1914/18 (Major, Rifle Brigade).

1890

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

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

1912

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

From this reading 1912; served with H.M. Forces 1914/18 (Major, Rifle Brigade).

1914

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

From this reading 1912; served with H.M. Forces 1914/18 (Major, Rifle Brigade).

1935

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

From this reading _Married_ 1935, Harriet Deborah Vane, _daughter of_ Henry Vane, M.D.; one _son_ (Bredon Delagardie Peter) _born_ 1936.

1936

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

From this reading _Married_ 1935, Harriet Deborah Vane, _daughter of_ Henry Vane, M.D.; one _son_ (Bredon Delagardie Peter) _born_ 1936.

1st

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

From this reading _Educated_: Eton College and Balliol College, (1st class honours), Sch. of Mod.

2nd

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

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

Balliol

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

From this reading _Educated_: Eton College and Balliol College, (1st class honours), Sch. of Mod.

BellinghamnounUS /ˈbelɪŋhæm/

a town in northwestern Washington on a bay near the Canadian border

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/

brought into existence

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

Bredon

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

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

BrigadenounUS /brəˈɡeɪd/

army unit smaller than a division

From this reading 1912; served with H.M. Forces 1914/18 (Major, Rifle Brigade).

classnounUS /klæs/

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading _Educated_: Eton College and Balliol College, (1st class honours), Sch. of Mod.

CollegenounUS /ˈkɑːlɪdʒ/

the body of faculty and students of a college

From this reading _Educated_: Eton College and Balliol College, (1st class honours), Sch. of Mod.

DnounUS /diː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

DeathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

Deborah

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

From this reading _Married_ 1935, Harriet Deborah Vane, _daughter of_ Henry Vane, M.D.; one _son_ (Bredon Delagardie Peter) _born_ 1936.

Delagardie

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

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

DenvernounUS /ˈdenvər/

the state capital and largest city of Colorado; located in central Colorado on the South Platte river

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

DukenounUS /duːk/

a British peer of the highest rank

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

EducatedadjectiveUS /ˈedʒəkeɪtɪd/

possessing an education (especially having more than average knowledge)

From this reading _Educated_: Eton College and Balliol College, (1st class honours), Sch. of Mod.

Eton

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

From this reading _Educated_: Eton College and Balliol College, (1st class honours), Sch. of Mod.

ForcesnounUS /ˈfɔːrsɪz/

plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence

From this reading 1912; served with H.M. Forces 1914/18 (Major, Rifle Brigade).

Francis

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

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

Gerald

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

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

HnounUS /eɪtʃ/

a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe

From this reading 1912; served with H.M. Forces 1914/18 (Major, Rifle Brigade).

Hants

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

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

Harriet

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

From this reading _Married_ 1935, Harriet Deborah Vane, _daughter of_ Henry Vane, M.D.; one _son_ (Bredon Delagardie Peter) _born_ 1936.

HenrynounUS /ˈhenri/

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading _Married_ 1935, Harriet Deborah Vane, _daughter of_ Henry Vane, M.D.; one _son_ (Bredon Delagardie Peter) _born_ 1936.

Hist

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

From this reading Hist.

Honoria

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

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

honoursnoun

a university degree with honors

From this reading _Educated_: Eton College and Balliol College, (1st class honours), Sch. of Mod.

Lucasta

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

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

MnounUS /em/

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading _Married_ 1935, Harriet Deborah Vane, _daughter of_ Henry Vane, M.D.; one _son_ (Bredon Delagardie Peter) _born_ 1936.

MajoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading 1912; served with H.M. Forces 1914/18 (Major, Rifle Brigade).

ManornounUS /ˈmænər/

the mansion of a lord or wealthy person

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

MarriedadjectiveUS /ˈmerid/

joined in matrimony

From this reading _Married_ 1935, Harriet Deborah Vane, _daughter of_ Henry Vane, M.D.; one _son_ (Bredon Delagardie Peter) _born_ 1936.

ModnounUS /mɔːd/

a British teenager or young adult in the 1960s; noted for their clothes consciousness and opposition to the rockers

From this reading _Educated_: Eton College and Balliol College, (1st class honours), Sch. of Mod.

MortimernounUS /ˈmɔːrtɪmər/

English nobleman who deposed Edward II and was executed by Edward III (1287-1330)

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

OnounUS /oʊ/

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading _Married_ 1935, Harriet Deborah Vane, _daughter of_ Henry Vane, M.D.; one _son_ (Bredon Delagardie Peter) _born_ 1936.

PeternounUS /ˈpiːtər/

disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

RifleverbUS /ˈraɪfəl/

steal goods; take as spoils

From this reading 1912; served with H.M. Forces 1914/18 (Major, Rifle Brigade).

SnounUS /es/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

Sch

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

From this reading _Educated_: Eton College and Balliol College, (1st class honours), Sch. of Mod.

servedverbUS /sɜːrvd/

past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading 1912; served with H.M. Forces 1914/18 (Major, Rifle Brigade).

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

VanenounUS /veɪn/

mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind

From this reading _Married_ 1935, Harriet Deborah Vane, _daughter of_ Henry Vane, M.D.; one _son_ (Bredon Delagardie Peter) _born_ 1936.

WIMSEY

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

From this reading WIMSEY, Peter Death Bredon, D.S.O.; _born_ 1890, _2nd son_ of Mortimer Gerald Bredon Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver, and of Honoria Lucasta, _daughter of_ Francis Delagardie of Bellingham Manor, Hants.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading 1912; served with H.M. Forces 1914/18 (Major, Rifle Brigade).

Chapter 1 of Unnatural death by Dorothy L. (Dorothy Leigh) Sayers holds 113 sentences, grouped into 23 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 Unnatural death contain?

Chapter 1 holds 113 sentences of Unnatural death, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Unnatural death by Dorothy L. (Dorothy Leigh) Sayers exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 113 sentences, grouped into 23 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 Unnatural death?

Work through the 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 23 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 Unnatural death

Common questions about reading Unnatural death by Dorothy L. (Dorothy Leigh) Sayers on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Unnatural death?

Yes. All 6033 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #70008 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Unnatural death is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #70008, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Unnatural death take to read?

About 502 minutes of reading across 1207 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Unnatural death section by section

How to work through Unnatural death section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Unnatural death

Words and structures a reader meets early in Unnatural death, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Wimsey
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Unnatural death; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Peter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Unnatural death; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Death
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Unnatural death; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bredon
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Unnatural death; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.