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An Isle of Surrey: A Novel
An Isle of Surrey: A Novel

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel is here in full — 236 sentences across 48 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for An Isle of Surrey: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/47 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CRAWFORD'S HOUSE.
Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.
The end of it was formed of a brick wall, moss-grown and ragged.
On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.
In the street, which was a couple of hundred yards long, stood the only dwelling.
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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.

An Isle of Surrey: A Novel

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel is here in full — 236 sentences across 48 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
CRAWFORD'S HOUSE.
/ˈkrɔːfərdz haʊs/
Line 2
Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.
/ˈkrɔːfərd striːt ˈɪntuː wɪtʃ ðə ˈstreɪndʒər ənd hɪz ˈʌnˈkuːθ kənˈdʌktər hæd tɜːrnd wɑːz ə ˈneroʊ ˈdɪndʒi nəˈɡlektəd blaɪnd leɪn/
Line 3
The end of it was formed of a brick wall, moss-grown and ragged.
Line 4
On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.
Line 5
In the street, which was a couple of hundred yards long, stood the only dwelling.
/ɪn ðə striːt wɪtʃ wɑːz ə ˈkʌpəl ʌv ˈhʌndrəd jɑːrdz lɔːŋ stʊd ðə ˈoʊnli ˈdwelɪŋ/

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.

abutted verb US /əˈbʌtɪd/

inflected form of “abut” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary

From this reading “On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.”

crawford's noun US /ˈkrɔːfərdz/

possessive form of “crawford” — United States neoclassical sculptor (1814-1857)

From this reading “CRAWFORD'S HOUSE.”

dilapidated adjective US /dəˈlæpədeɪtɪd/

in deplorable condition

From this reading “On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.”

mounds noun US /maʊndz/

plural of “mound” — (baseball) the slight elevation on which the pitcher stands

From this reading “On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.”

rears noun US /rɪrz/

plural of “rear” — the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading “On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.”

roadway noun US /ˈroʊdweɪ/

a road (especially that part of a road) over which vehicles travel

From this reading “On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.”

separating verb US /ˈsepəreɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “separate” — act as a barrier between; stand between

From this reading “On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.”

utensils noun US /juːˈtensəlz/

plural of “utensil” — an implement for practical use (especially in a household)

From this reading “On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.”

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.

hundred yards noun + noun counted as “hundred yard”

In this reading “In the street, which was a couple of hundred yards long, stood the only dwelling.”

rusty iron adjective + noun

In this reading “On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.”

brick wall noun + noun

In this reading “The end of it was formed of a brick wall, moss-grown and ragged.”

In the street preposition + article + noun counted as “in … street”

In this reading “In the street, which was a couple of hundred yards long, stood the only dwelling.”

All words in this reading · 86

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 Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

abuttedverbUS /əˈbʌtɪd/

inflected form of “abut” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

batteredadjectiveUS /ˈbætərd/

damaged by blows or hard usage

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

baynounUS /beɪ/

an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

blindnounUS /blaɪnd/

people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

bricknounUS /brɪk/

rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading The end of it was formed of a brick wall, moss-grown and ragged.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

conductornounUS /kənˈdʌktər/

the person who leads a musical group

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading In the street, which was a couple of hundred yards long, stood the only dwelling.

CrawfordnounUS /ˈkrɔːfərd/

United States neoclassical sculptor (1814-1857)

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

CRAWFORD'SnounUS /ˈkrɔːfərdz/

possessive form of “crawford” — United States neoclassical sculptor (1814-1857)

From this reading CRAWFORD'S HOUSE.

crownedadjectiveUS /kraʊnd/

having an (artificial) crown on a tooth

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

dilapidatedadjectiveUS /dəˈlæpədeɪtɪd/

in deplorable condition

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/

thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

doorsnounUS /dɔːrz/

plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/

lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/

housing that someone is living in

From this reading In the street, which was a couple of hundred yards long, stood the only dwelling.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading The end of it was formed of a brick wall, moss-grown and ragged.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

formedadjectiveUS /fɔːrmd/

having or given a form or shape

From this reading The end of it was formed of a brick wall, moss-grown and ragged.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

gatesnounUS /ɡeɪts/

United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

half-illegible

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

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

HOUSEnounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading CRAWFORD'S HOUSE.

hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading In the street, which was a couple of hundred yards long, stood the only dwelling.

idleadjectiveUS /ˈaɪdəl/

not in action or at work

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the street, which was a couple of hundred yards long, stood the only dwelling.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

ironnounUS /ˈaɪərn/

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The end of it was formed of a brick wall, moss-grown and ragged.

lanenounUS /leɪn/

a narrow way or road

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

materialadjectiveUS /məˈtɪriəl/

concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

moss-grownadjective

overgrown with moss

From this reading The end of it was formed of a brick wall, moss-grown and ragged.

moundsnounUS /maʊndz/

plural of “mound” — (baseball) the slight elevation on which the pitcher stands

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/

disregarded

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

notice-board

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

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The end of it was formed of a brick wall, moss-grown and ragged.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

plotnounUS /plɑːt/

a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/

being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn

From this reading The end of it was formed of a brick wall, moss-grown and ragged.

rearsnounUS /rɪrz/

plural of “rear” — the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

roadwaynounUS /ˈroʊdweɪ/

a road (especially that part of a road) over which vehicles travel

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

rubbishnounUS /ˈrʌbɪʃ/

worthless material that is to be disposed of

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/

covered with or consisting of rust

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

separatingverbUS /ˈsepəreɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “separate” — act as a barrier between; stand between

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

shotnounUS /ʃɑːt/

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

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

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading In the street, which was a couple of hundred yards long, stood the only dwelling.

strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

StreetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

tinnounUS /tɪn/

a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

unbrokenadjectiveUS /ənˈbroʊkən/

marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

uncouthadjectiveUS /ˈʌnˈkuːθ/

lacking refinement or cultivation or taste

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

undeterminableadjective

not capable of being definitely decided or ascertained

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

utensilsnounUS /juːˈtensəlz/

plural of “utensil” — an implement for practical use (especially in a household)

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

wallnounUS /wɔːl/

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading The end of it was formed of a brick wall, moss-grown and ragged.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

wastenounUS /weɪst/

any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

wharves

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

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Crawford Street, into which the stranger and his uncouth conductor had turned, was a narrow, dingy, neglected blind lane.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading On the right hand side were gates and doors of idle wharves, whose rears abutted on the bay; on the left, a long low unbroken wall separating the roadway from a desolate waste, where rubbish might be shot, according to a dilapidated and half-illegible notice-board; but on the plot were only two small mounds of that dreary material, crowned with a few battered rusty iron and tin utensils of undeterminable use.

yardsnounUS /jɑːrdz/

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading In the street, which was a couple of hundred yards long, stood the only dwelling.

Chapter 2 of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel by Richard Dowling holds 236 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 An Isle of Surrey: A Novel contain?

Chapter 2 holds 236 sentences of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 48 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel by Richard Dowling exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 236 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 An Isle of Surrey: A Novel?

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.

Questions about reading An Isle of Surrey: A Novel

Common questions about reading An Isle of Surrey: A Novel by Richard Dowling on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel?

Yes. All 6712 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #42756 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #42756, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does An Isle of Surrey: A Novel take to read?

About 559 minutes of reading across 1343 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read An Isle of Surrey: A Novel section by section

How to work through An Isle of Surrey: A Novel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

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Vocabulary met early in An Isle of Surrey: A Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in An Isle of Surrey: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Source
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Novel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mystery
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Killard
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Isle of Surrey: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.