Chapter 14 of Barren Ground is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIV
Chapter 14 of Barren Ground is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"Well, I'll borrow," said Dorinda defiantly. "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it. Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction. That will be less than half the actual cost, he says." He was looking at her now with keen, impersonal admiration.
Chapter 14 of Barren Ground is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading “That will be less than half the actual cost, he says."”
a variety of bridge in which tricks made in excess of the contract are scored toward game; now generally superseded by contract bridge
From this reading “Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.”
get temporarily
From this reading “"Well, I'll borrow," said Dorinda defiantly.”
past form of “borrow” — get temporarily
From this reading “"We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.”
the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading “"We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.”
in a rebellious manner
From this reading “"Well, I'll borrow," said Dorinda defiantly.”
not relating to or responsive to individual persons
From this reading “He was looking at her now with keen, impersonal admiration.”
machines or machine systems collectively
From this reading “Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.”
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.
In this reading “"We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.”
take and lift upward
In this reading “Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.”
In this reading “"We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.”
In this reading “Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.”
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.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading That will be less than half the actual cost, he says."
a feeling of delighted approval and liking
From this reading He was looking at her now with keen, impersonal admiration.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.
a variety of bridge in which tricks made in excess of the contract are scored toward game; now generally superseded by contract bridge
From this reading Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That will be less than half the actual cost, he says."
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
get temporarily
From this reading "Well, I'll borrow," said Dorinda defiantly.
past form of “borrow” — get temporarily
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.
the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
From this reading That will be less than half the actual cost, he says."
the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
in a rebellious manner
From this reading "Well, I'll borrow," said Dorinda defiantly.
plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, I'll borrow," said Dorinda defiantly.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
the act of departing
From this reading Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading That will be less than half the actual cost, he says."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He was looking at her now with keen, impersonal admiration.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, I'll borrow," said Dorinda defiantly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
not relating to or responsive to individual persons
From this reading He was looking at her now with keen, impersonal admiration.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading He was looking at her now with keen, impersonal admiration.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading That will be less than half the actual cost, he says."
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He was looking at her now with keen, impersonal admiration.
machines or machine systems collectively
From this reading Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was looking at her now with keen, impersonal admiration.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
select carefully from a group
From this reading Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well, I'll borrow," said Dorinda defiantly.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading That will be less than half the actual cost, he says."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading That will be less than half the actual cost, he says."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That will be less than half the actual cost, he says."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That will be less than half the actual cost, he says."
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was looking at her now with keen, impersonal admiration.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We've always been afraid of debt; but I've already borrowed two thousand dollars, and if I need more, I'll try to get it.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, I'll borrow," said Dorinda defiantly.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Nathan is going to pick up whatever machinery he can at auction.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading That will be less than half the actual cost, he says."
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was looking at her now with keen, impersonal admiration.
Chapter 14 of Barren Ground by Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow holds 412 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.
Chapter 14 holds 412 sentences of Barren Ground, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 14 of Barren Ground by Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 412 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.
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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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.
Common questions about reading Barren Ground by Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 9424 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #66191 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #66191, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1885 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Barren Ground section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 23 chapters of Barren Ground to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Barren Ground, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
