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A Century Too Soon: The Age of Tyranny
A Century Too Soon: The Age of Tyranny

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of A Century Too Soon: The Age of Tyranny is here in full — 237 sentences across 48 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Century Too Soon: The Age of Tyranny
Context Illustration Reading 1/47 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SEEKING BETTER FORTUNE.
On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.
--BURNS.
In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.
His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.
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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.

A Century Too Soon: The Age of Tyranny

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of A Century Too Soon: The Age of Tyranny is here in full — 237 sentences across 48 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/47 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SEEKING BETTER FORTUNE.
/ˈsiːkɪŋ ˈbetər ˈfɔːrtʃən/
Line 2
On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.
Line 3
--BURNS.
/bɜːrnz/
Line 4
In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.
/ɪn vərˈdʒɪnjəz kəˈloʊniəl deɪz noʊ mæn wɑːz ˈbetər noʊn ðæn dʒɑːn smɪθ ˈstiːvənz/
Line 5
His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.
/hɪz ˈfɑːðər wɑːz wʌn ʌv ðə ərˈɪdʒənəl ˈfaʊndərz ʌv ˈdʒeɪmztaʊn ənd ɪt wɑːz sed hæd feld ðə fɜːrst triː tuː bɪld ðə ˈsɪti/

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.

burns noun US /bɜːrnz/

United States comedian and film actor (1896-1996)

From this reading “--BURNS.”

colonial adjective US /kəˈloʊniəl/

of or relating to or characteristic of or inhabiting a colony

From this reading “In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.”

felled verb US /feld/

past form of “fell” — cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading “His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.”

founders noun US /ˈfaʊndərz/

plural of “founder” — inflammation of the laminated tissue that attaches the hoof to the foot of a horse

From this reading “His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.”

intent noun US /ˌɪnˈtent/

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading “On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.”

Jamestown noun US /ˈdʒeɪmztaʊn/

a former village on the James River in Virginia to the north of Norfolk; site of the first permanent English settlement in America in 1607

From this reading “His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.”

Stevens noun US /ˈstiːvənz/

United States psychologist and psychophysicist who proposed Stevens' power law to replace Fechner's law (1906-1973)

From this reading “In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.”

Virginia's noun US /vərˈdʒɪnjəz/

possessive form of “virginia” — a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War

From this reading “In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.”

All words in this reading · 51

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.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

bentnounUS /bent/

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

BETTERadjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading SEEKING BETTER FORTUNE.

buildverbUS /bɪld/

make by combining materials and parts

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

BURNSnounUS /bɜːrnz/

United States comedian and film actor (1896-1996)

From this reading --BURNS.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

colonialadjectiveUS /kəˈloʊniəl/

of or relating to or characteristic of or inhabiting a colony

From this reading In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.

cursedlyadverb

in a damnable manner

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.

fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

felledverbUS /feld/

past form of “fell” — cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

foolnounUS /fuːl/

a person who lacks good judgment

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

FORTUNEnounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading SEEKING BETTER FORTUNE.

foundersnounUS /ˈfaʊndərz/

plural of “founder” — inflammation of the laminated tissue that attaches the hoof to the foot of a horse

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnəst/

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.

intentnounUS /ˌɪnˈtent/

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

JamestownnounUS /ˈdʒeɪmztaʊn/

a former village on the James River in Virginia to the north of Norfolk; site of the first permanent English settlement in America in 1607

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.

man'snounUS /mænz/

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

marriedadjectiveUS /ˈmerid/

joined in matrimony

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

miscarried

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

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

originaladjectiveUS /ərˈɪdʒənəl/

preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

peacenounUS /piːs/

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

SEEKINGnounUS /ˈsiːkɪŋ/

the act of searching for something

From this reading SEEKING BETTER FORTUNE.

SmithnounUS /smɪθ/

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

From this reading In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.

StevensnounUS /ˈstiːvənz/

United States psychologist and psychophysicist who proposed Stevens' power law to replace Fechner's law (1906-1973)

From this reading In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

treenounUS /triː/

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading His father was one of the original founders of Jamestown and, it was said, had felled the first tree to build the city.

Virginia'snounUS /vərˈdʒɪnjəz/

possessive form of “virginia” — a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War

From this reading In Virginia's colonial days, no man was better known than John Smith Stevens.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading On peace and rest my mind was bent, And fool I was I married; But never honest man's intent As cursedly miscarried.

Chapter 2 of A Century Too Soon: The Age of Tyranny by John R. (John Roy) Musick holds 237 sentences, grouped into 48 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 2 of A Century Too Soon: The Age of Tyranny contain?

Chapter 2 holds 237 sentences of A Century Too Soon: The Age of Tyranny, unabridged, divided into 48 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of A Century Too Soon: The Age of Tyranny by John R. (John Roy) Musick exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 237 sentences, grouped into 48 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 2 of A Century Too Soon: The Age of Tyranny?

Work through the 48 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 48 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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.

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Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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

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About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in A Century Too Soon: The Age of Tyranny

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Century Too Soon: The Age of Tyranny, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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