Chapter 1 of Valentine and Orson is here in full — 462 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Valentine and Orson is here in full — 462 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
THEATRE-ROYAL COVENT-GARDEN. WRITTEN BY T. DIBDIN. THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c. &c. MR.
Chapter 1 of Valentine and Orson is here in full — 462 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/92 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
a piece of furniture resembling a cupboard with doors and shelves and drawers; for storage or display
From this reading “THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.”
possessive form of “david” — patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading “THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.”
a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties
From this reading “THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.”
connected with or belonging to or used in a navy
From this reading “THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.”
the world's longest river (4150 miles); flows northward through eastern Africa into the Mediterranean; the Nile River valley in Egypt was the site of the world's first great civilization
From this reading “THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.”
a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading “THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.”
a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
From this reading “THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.”
plural of “quarrel” — an angry dispute
From this reading “THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.”
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.
In this reading “THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.”
In this reading “THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading WRITTEN BY T. DIBDIN.
a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
a piece of furniture resembling a cupboard with doors and shelves and drawers; for storage or display
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THEATRE-ROYAL COVENT-GARDEN.
possessive form of “david” — patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WRITTEN BY T. DIBDIN.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
a social unit living together
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
a midwestern state in north-central United States
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
a form of address for a man
From this reading MR.
connected with or belonging to or used in a navy
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
the world's longest river (4150 miles); flows northward through eastern Africa into the Mediterranean; the Nile River valley in Egypt was the site of the world's first great civilization
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
plural of “quarrel” — an angry dispute
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
an educational institution
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine
From this reading WRITTEN BY T. DIBDIN.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THEATRE-ROYAL COVENT-GARDEN.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading WRITTEN BY T. DIBDIN.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading THE JEW and DOCTOR, BIRTH-DAY, WILL for the DEED, CABINET, ENGLISH FLEET, FAMILY QUARRELS, IL BONDOCANI, SCHOOL for PREJUDICE, FIVE THOUSAND a YEAR, SAINT DAVID's DAY, NAVAL PILLAR, MOUTH of the NILE, HORSE and the WIDOW, &c.
Chapter 1 of Valentine and Orson by Thomas Dibdin holds 462 sentences, grouped into 93 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.
Chapter 1 holds 462 sentences of Valentine and Orson, unabridged, divided into 93 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Valentine and Orson by Thomas Dibdin exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 462 sentences, grouped into 93 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.
Work through the 93 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 93 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.
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.
Common questions about reading Valentine and Orson by Thomas Dibdin on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 462 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #48686 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #48686, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 38 minutes of reading across 93 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Valentine and Orson section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 1 chapters of Valentine and Orson to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Valentine and Orson, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
