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Young Barbarians
Young Barbarians

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Young Barbarians is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Ian Maclaren • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Young Barbarians
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."
Frontispiece "Peter dared not lift his head."
36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."
66 "Nestie whispered something in Speug's ear."
92 "Speug was dragged along the walk."
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Young Barbarians

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Young Barbarians is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."
Line 2
Frontispiece "Peter dared not lift his head."
Line 3
36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."
Line 4
66 "Nestie whispered something in Speug's ear."
Line 5
92 "Speug was dragged along the walk."

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.

Bonnie adjective US /ˈbɑːni/

very pleasing to the eye

From this reading “_By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Brier noun US /ˈbraɪər/

tangled mass of prickly plants

From this reading “_By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Bush noun US /bʊʃ/

a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
centre noun US /ˈsentər/

a low-lying region in central France

From this reading “_By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dragged verb US /dræɡd/

inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance

From this reading “92 "Speug was dragged along the walk."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lift verb US /lɪft/

raise from a lower to a higher position

From this reading “Frontispiece "Peter dared not lift his head."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Mead noun US /miːd/

United States anthropologist noted for her claims about adolescence and sexual behavior in Polynesian cultures (1901-1978)

From this reading “_By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Russian noun US /ˈrʌʃən/

a native or inhabitant of Russia

From this reading “36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."”

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.

entrance hall noun + noun

a large entrance or reception room or area

In this reading “_By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."”

690 times in 426,211 chapters
dragged along verb + particle counted as “drag along”

In this reading “92 "Speug was dragged along the walk."”

1,081 times in 426,211 chapters
in the centre preposition + article + noun counted as “in … centre”

In this reading “_By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."”

14,768 times in 426,211 chapters

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.

36

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

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

Pending verification
50

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

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

Pending verification
66

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

From this reading 66 "Nestie whispered something in Speug's ear."

Pending verification
92

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

From this reading 92 "Speug was dragged along the walk."

Pending verification
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading 92 "Speug was dragged along the walk."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AuthornounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BesideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BonnieadjectiveUS /ˈbɑːni/

very pleasing to the eye

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BriernounUS /ˈbraɪər/

tangled mass of prickly plants

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BushnounUS /bʊʃ/

a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
c-cad

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

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

Pending verification
centrenounUS /ˈsentər/

a low-lying region in central France

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CompanynounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
daredverbUS /derd/

past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission

From this reading Frontispiece "Peter dared not lift his head."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Dodd

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

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

Pending verification
draggedverbUS /dræɡd/

inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance

From this reading 92 "Speug was dragged along the walk."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
earnounUS /iːr/

the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading 66 "Nestie whispered something in Speug's ear."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
entrancenounUS /ˈentrəns/

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
excellentadjectiveUS /ˈeksələnt/

very good; of the highest quality

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Frontispiecenoun

an ornamental facade

From this reading Frontispiece "Peter dared not lift his head."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gunsnounUS /ɡʌnz/

plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hallnounUS /hɔːl/

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Frontispiece "Peter dared not lift his head."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Frontispiece "Peter dared not lift his head."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IAN

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

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

Pending verification
ill-bredadjective

(of persons) lacking in refinement or grace

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
liftverbUS /lɪft/

raise from a lower to a higher position

From this reading Frontispiece "Peter dared not lift his head."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MACLAREN

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

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

Pending verification
MeadnounUS /miːd/

United States anthropologist noted for her claims about adolescence and sexual behavior in Polynesian cultures (1901-1978)

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Nestie

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

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

Pending verification
NEWadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Frontispiece "Peter dared not lift his head."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
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 Frontispiece "Peter dared not lift his head."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/

a native or inhabitant of Russia

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SeizedverbUS /siːzd/

past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading 66 "Nestie whispered something in Speug's ear."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Speug

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

From this reading 92 "Speug was dragged along the walk."

Pending verification
Speug's

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

From this reading 66 "Nestie whispered something in Speug's ear."

Pending verification
standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/

having a supporting base

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
walknounUS /wɔːk/

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading 92 "Speug was dragged along the walk."

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 _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whisperedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪspərd/

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading 66 "Nestie whispered something in Speug's ear."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
YORKnounUS /jɔːrk/

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_" NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading 36 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad.'" 50 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of Young Barbarians by Ian Maclaren holds 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Young Barbarians contain?

Chapter 1 holds 415 sentences of Young Barbarians, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Young Barbarians by Ian Maclaren exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Young Barbarians?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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 Young Barbarians

Common questions about reading Young Barbarians by Ian Maclaren on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Young Barbarians?

Yes. All 2189 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #30089 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Young Barbarians is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #30089, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Young Barbarians take to read?

About 182 minutes of reading across 438 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Young Barbarians section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 5 chapters of Young Barbarians 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 Young Barbarians

Words and structures a reader meets early in Young Barbarians, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Maclaren
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Young Barbarians; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Young Barbarians; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Beside
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Young Barbarians; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bonnie
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Young Barbarians; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.