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When Grandmamma Was New
When Grandmamma Was New

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of When Grandmamma Was New is here in full — 160 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for When Grandmamma Was New
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_Norwood Press_ _J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith_ _Norwood Mass.
U.S.A._ SUNNYBANK, POMPTON, N.J.
It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.
Somebody asked him what sort of stories he liked best.
No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.
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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.

When Grandmamma Was New

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of When Grandmamma Was New is here in full — 160 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_Norwood Press_ _J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith_ _Norwood Mass.
Line 2
U.S.A._ SUNNYBANK, POMPTON, N.J.
Line 3
It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.
Line 4
Somebody asked him what sort of stories he liked best.
/ˈsʌmbɑːdi æskt hɪm wʌt sɔːrt ʌv ˈstɔːriz hiː laɪkt best/
Line 5
No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.
/noʊ daʊt hiː ɔːt tuː hæv sed ˈbaɪbəl ˈstɔːriz sʌtʃ æz hɪz ˈmʌðər telz ɑːn ˈsʌndeɪ ˌæftərˈnuːnz ənd wɪtʃ hiː dʌz lʌv ˈdɪrli/

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 “No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.”

Bible noun US /ˈbaɪbəl/

the sacred writings of the Christian religions

From this reading “No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.”

Cushing noun US /ˈkʊʃɪŋ/

United States neurologist noted for his study of the brain and pituitary gland and who identified Cushing's syndrome (1869-1939)

From this reading “_Norwood Press_ _J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith_ _Norwood Mass.”

dearly adverb US /ˈdɪrli/

in a sincere and heartfelt manner

From this reading “No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.”

Press verb US /pres/

exert pressure or force to or upon

Smith noun US /smɪθ/

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

tells noun US /telz/

plural of “tell” — a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer

From this reading “No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.”

younger adjective US /ˈjʌŋɡər/

used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father

From this reading “It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.”

All words in this reading · 56

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 U.S.A._ SUNNYBANK, POMPTON, N.J.

afternoonsnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːnz/

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

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Somebody asked him what sort of stories he liked best.

Berwick

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

From this reading _Norwood Press_ _J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith_ _Norwood Mass.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Somebody asked him what sort of stories he liked best.

BiblenounUS /ˈbaɪbəl/

the sacred writings of the Christian religions

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

ConounUS /koʊ/

an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon

From this reading _Norwood Press_ _J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith_ _Norwood Mass.

CushingnounUS /ˈkʊʃɪŋ/

United States neurologist noted for his study of the brain and pituitary gland and who identified Cushing's syndrome (1869-1939)

From this reading _Norwood Press_ _J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith_ _Norwood Mass.

dearlyadverbUS /ˈdɪrli/

in a sincere and heartfelt manner

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

doubtnounUS /daʊt/

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

Fritz

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

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Somebody asked him what sort of stories he liked best.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

JnounUS /dʒeɪ/

a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one second

From this reading _Norwood Press_ _J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith_ _Norwood Mass.

likedadjectiveUS /laɪkt/

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading Somebody asked him what sort of stories he liked best.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

MassnounUS /mæs/

the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field

From this reading _Norwood Press_ _J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith_ _Norwood Mass.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

NnounUS /en/

a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues

From this reading U.S.A._ SUNNYBANK, POMPTON, N.J.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

Norwood

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

From this reading _Norwood Press_ _J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith_ _Norwood Mass.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Somebody asked him what sort of stories he liked best.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

POMPTON

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

From this reading U.S.A._ SUNNYBANK, POMPTON, N.J.

PressverbUS /pres/

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading _Norwood Press_ _J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith_ _Norwood Mass.

SnounUS /es/

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

From this reading _Norwood Press_ _J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith_ _Norwood Mass.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

SmithnounUS /smɪθ/

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading _Norwood Press_ _J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith_ _Norwood Mass.

SomebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading Somebody asked him what sort of stories he liked best.

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Somebody asked him what sort of stories he liked best.

storiesnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Somebody asked him what sort of stories he liked best.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

SundaynounUS /ˈsʌndeɪ/

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

SUNNYBANK

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

From this reading U.S.A._ SUNNYBANK, POMPTON, N.J.

tellsnounUS /telz/

plural of “tell” — a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

UnounUS /juː/

a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading U.S.A._ SUNNYBANK, POMPTON, N.J.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Somebody asked him what sort of stories he liked best.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

youngeradjectiveUS /ˈjʌŋɡər/

used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father

From this reading It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

Chapter 1 of When Grandmamma Was New by Marion Harland holds 160 sentences, grouped into 32 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 When Grandmamma Was New contain?

Chapter 1 holds 160 sentences of When Grandmamma Was New, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of When Grandmamma Was New by Marion Harland exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 160 sentences, grouped into 32 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 When Grandmamma Was New?

Work through the 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 32 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 When Grandmamma Was New

Common questions about reading When Grandmamma Was New by Marion Harland on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of When Grandmamma Was New?

Yes. All 2707 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #25118 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of When Grandmamma Was New is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #25118, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does When Grandmamma Was New take to read?

About 225 minutes of reading across 542 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read When Grandmamma Was New section by section

How to work through When Grandmamma Was New section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of When Grandmamma Was New 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 When Grandmamma Was New

Words and structures a reader meets early in When Grandmamma Was New, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Norwood
A word that appears in the opening chapter of When Grandmamma Was New; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Press
A word that appears in the opening chapter of When Grandmamma Was New; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cushing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of When Grandmamma Was New; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Berwick
A word that appears in the opening chapter of When Grandmamma Was New; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.