A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I

Chapter IX · On the Helplessness of Woman

Chapter IX of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I, “On the Helplessness of Woman,” is here in full — 151 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Frank Frankfort Moore • Curated US English Learning Edition

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THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

He was mistaken.

She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.

He saw--with great satisfaction--that with only one oar she was helpless.

What should he do?

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Chapter IX Reading 1/30

A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I

Chapter IX · On the Helplessness of Woman

Chapter IX of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I, “On the Helplessness of Woman,” is here in full — 151 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

Line 2

He was mistaken.

/hiː wɑːz mɪˈsteɪkən/

Line 3

She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.

/ʃiː hæd riːtʃt ðə end ʌv hɜːr ˈriːsɔːrsɪz ɪn ˈnævəˈɡeɪʃən wen ʃiː hæd rʌn ðə boʊt əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd ðə ˈlændɪŋ pleɪs/

Line 4

He saw--with great satisfaction--that with only one oar she was helpless.

Line 5

What should he do?

/wʌt ʃʊd hiː duː/

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.

alongside adverb US /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/

side by side

From this reading “She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.”

emergency noun US /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/

a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action

From this reading “THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.”

landing noun US /ˈlændɪŋ/

an intermediate platform in a staircase

From this reading “She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.”

management noun US /ˈmænədʒmənt/

the act of managing something

From this reading “THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.”

navigation noun US /ˈnævəˈɡeɪʃən/

the guidance of ships or airplanes from place to place

From this reading “She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.”

oar noun US /ɔːr/

an implement used to propel or steer a boat

From this reading “He saw--with great satisfaction--that with only one oar she was helpless.”

previously adverb US /ˈpriːviəsli/

at an earlier time or formerly

From this reading “THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.”

resources noun US /ˈriːsɔːrsɪz/

plural of “resource” — available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed

From this reading “She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.”

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.

present emergency verb + noun

In this reading “THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.”

landing place noun + noun

structure providing a place where boats can land people or goods

In this reading “She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.”

little craft adjective + noun

In this reading “THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.”

reached the end verb + article + noun counted as “reach … end”

In this reading “She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.”

All words in this reading · 50

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.

adroitnessnoun

skillful performance or ability without difficulty

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

alongsideadverbUS /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/

side by side

From this reading She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

boatnounUS /boʊt/

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.

craftnounUS /kræft/

the skilled practice of a practical occupation

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

deepadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading What should he do?

emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/

a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.

equalverbUS /ˈiːkwəl/

be identical or equivalent to

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading He saw--with great satisfaction--that with only one oar she was helpless.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

helplessadjectiveUS /ˈhelpləs/

lacking in or deprived of strength or power

From this reading He saw--with great satisfaction--that with only one oar she was helpless.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

landingnounUS /ˈlændɪŋ/

an intermediate platform in a staircase

From this reading She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

managementnounUS /ˈmænədʒmənt/

the act of managing something

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

mistakenadjectiveUS /mɪˈsteɪkən/

wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment

From this reading He was mistaken.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

navigationnounUS /ˈnævəˈɡeɪʃən/

the guidance of ships or airplanes from place to place

From this reading She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.

oarnounUS /ɔːr/

an implement used to propel or steer a boat

From this reading He saw--with great satisfaction--that with only one oar she was helpless.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He saw--with great satisfaction--that with only one oar she was helpless.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading He saw--with great satisfaction--that with only one oar she was helpless.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.

presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

previouslyadverbUS /ˈpriːviəsli/

at an earlier time or formerly

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.

regretverbUS /rəˈɡret/

feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

resourcesnounUS /ˈriːsɔːrsɪz/

plural of “resource” — available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed

From this reading She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.

runverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.

satisfactionnounUS /ˌsætəˈsfækʃən/

the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation

From this reading He saw--with great satisfaction--that with only one oar she was helpless.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading He saw--with great satisfaction--that with only one oar she was helpless.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading What should he do?

shownverbUS /ʃoʊn/

inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was mistaken.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What should he do?

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading She had reached the end of her resources in navigation when she had run the boat alongside the landing place.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading THE girl had shown so much adroitness in the management of the little craft previously, he felt--with deep regret--that she would be quite equal to her present emergency.

Chapter 9 of A Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I by Frank Frankfort Moore holds 151 sentences, grouped into 31 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.

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Chapter IX · On the Helplessness of Woman

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