Beyond the Black Waters

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Beyond the Black Waters is here in full — 101 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By A. L. O. E. • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Beyond the Black Waters

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ The text frequently shows quotations within quotations, all │ │ set off by double quotes.

The inner quotations have been │ │ changed to single quotes for improved readability.

│ │ │ │ Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps.

│ │ │ │ Non-printable characteristics have been given the following │ │ transliteration: │ │ Italic text: --> _text_ │ │ empasized text within italics --> |text| │ │ bold text: --> =text=.

│ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter I Reading 1/20

Beyond the Black Waters A. L. O. E.

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Beyond the Black Waters is here in full — 101 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ The text frequently shows quotations within quotations, all │ │ set off by double quotes. The inner quotations have been │ │ changed to single quotes for improved readability. │ │ │ │ Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps. │ │ │ │ Non-printable characteristics have been given the following │ │ transliteration: │ │ Italic text: --> _text_ │ │ empasized text within italics --> |text| │ │ bold text: --> =text=. │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

Beyond the Black Waters

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Beyond the Black Waters is here in full — 101 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

/ðə tekst ˈfriːkwəntli ʃoʊz kwoʊˈteɪʃənz wɪˈðɪn kwoʊˈteɪʃənz ɔːl set ɔːf baɪ ˈdʌbəl kwoʊts/

Line 2

The inner quotations have been │ │ changed to single quotes for improved readability.

/ðə ˈɪnər kwoʊˈteɪʃənz hæv bɪn tʃeɪndʒd tuː ˈsɪŋɡəl kwoʊts fɔːr ˌɪmˈpruːvd ˌriːdəˈbɪlɪti/

Line 3

│ │ │ │ Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps.

/ˈkærəktərz ɪn smɔːl kæps hæv bɪn ˌriːˈpleɪst baɪ ɔːl kæps/

Line 4

Line 5

│ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

/ðɪs bʊk wɑːz ˈrɪtən ɪn ə ˈpɪriəd wen ˈmeni wɜːrdz hæd nɑːt bɪˈkʌm ˈstændərdaɪzd ɪn ðer ˈspelɪŋ/

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.

characteristics noun US /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪks/

plural of “characteristic” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading “│ │ │ │ Non-printable characteristics have been given the following │ │ transliteration: │ │ Italic text: --> _text_ │ │ empasized text within italics --> |text| │ │ bold text: --> =text=.”

Italic noun US /aɪˈtælɪk/

a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right

italics noun US /aɪˈtælɪks/

plural of “italic” — a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right

quotations noun US /kwoʊˈteɪʃənz/

plural of “quotation” — a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage

From this reading “┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ The text frequently shows quotations within quotations, all │ │ set off by double quotes.”

quotes noun US /kwoʊts/

plural of “quote” — a punctuation mark used to attribute the enclosed text to someone else

readability noun US /ˌriːdəˈbɪlɪti/

the quality of written language that makes it easy to read and understand

From this reading “The inner quotations have been │ │ changed to single quotes for improved readability.”

spelling noun US /ˈspelɪŋ/

forming words with letters according to the principles underlying accepted usage

From this reading “│ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.”

standardized adjective US /ˈstændərdaɪzd/

brought into conformity with a standard

From this reading “│ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.”

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.

set off verb + particle

put in motion or move to act

In this reading “┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ The text frequently shows quotations within quotations, all │ │ set off by double quotes.”

replaced by verb + particle counted as “replace by”

In this reading “│ │ │ │ Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps.”

many words adjective + noun

In this reading “│ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.”

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ The text frequently shows quotations within quotations, all │ │ set off by double quotes.

becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The inner quotations have been │ │ changed to single quotes for improved readability.

boldadjectiveUS /boʊld/

fearless and daring

From this reading │ │ │ │ Non-printable characteristics have been given the following │ │ transliteration: │ │ Italic text: --> _text_ │ │ empasized text within italics --> |text| │ │ bold text: --> =text=.

booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

capsnounUS /kæps/

plural of “cap” — a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading │ │ │ │ Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps.

changedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪndʒd/

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading The inner quotations have been │ │ changed to single quotes for improved readability.

characteristicsnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪks/

plural of “characteristic” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

CharactersnounUS /ˈkærəktərz/

plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading │ │ │ │ Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps.

doubleverbUS /ˈdʌbəl/

increase twofold

empasized

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

followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The inner quotations have been │ │ changed to single quotes for improved readability.

frequentlyadverbUS /ˈfriːkwəntli/

many times at short intervals

givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The inner quotations have been │ │ changed to single quotes for improved readability.

improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/

made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing

From this reading The inner quotations have been │ │ changed to single quotes for improved readability.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading │ │ │ │ Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps.

inneradjectiveUS /ˈɪnər/

located inward

From this reading The inner quotations have been │ │ changed to single quotes for improved readability.

ItalicnounUS /aɪˈtælɪk/

a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right

italicsnounUS /aɪˈtælɪks/

plural of “italic” — a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

Non-printable

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

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

periodnounUS /ˈpɪriəd/

an amount of time

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

quotationsnounUS /kwoʊˈteɪʃənz/

plural of “quotation” — a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage

quotesnounUS /kwoʊts/

plural of “quote” — a punctuation mark used to attribute the enclosed text to someone else

readabilitynounUS /ˌriːdəˈbɪlɪti/

the quality of written language that makes it easy to read and understand

From this reading The inner quotations have been │ │ changed to single quotes for improved readability.

replacedverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪst/

past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)

From this reading │ │ │ │ Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps.

setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

showsnounUS /ʃoʊz/

plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining

singleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡəl/

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading The inner quotations have been │ │ changed to single quotes for improved readability.

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

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

From this reading │ │ │ │ Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps.

spellingnounUS /ˈspelɪŋ/

forming words with letters according to the principles underlying accepted usage

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

standardizedadjectiveUS /ˈstændərdaɪzd/

brought into conformity with a standard

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

textnounUS /tekst/

the words of something written

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The inner quotations have been │ │ changed to single quotes for improved readability.

transliterationnoun

a transcription from one alphabet to another

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

writtenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪtən/

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling.

Chapter 1 of Beyond the Black Waters by A. L. O. E. holds 101 sentences, grouped into 21 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of Beyond the Black Waters contain?

Chapter 1 holds 101 sentences of Beyond the Black Waters, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Beyond the Black Waters by A. L. O. E. exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 101 sentences, grouped into 21 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of Beyond the Black Waters?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Beyond the Black Waters

Common questions about reading Beyond the Black Waters by A. L. O. E. on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Beyond the Black Waters?

Yes. All 3336 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #59619 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Beyond the Black Waters is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #59619, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Beyond the Black Waters take to read?

About 278 minutes of reading across 668 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Beyond the Black Waters section by section

How to work through Beyond the Black Waters section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 32 chapters of Beyond the Black Waters to begin.
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Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Beyond the Black Waters

Words and structures a reader meets early in Beyond the Black Waters, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Frequently: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beyond the Black Waters; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shows: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beyond the Black Waters; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Quotations: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beyond the Black Waters; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Within: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beyond the Black Waters; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter I

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Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

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Vocabulary met early in Beyond the Black Waters