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Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.
Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.

Chapter XXII

Chapter 22 of Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.
"That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.
'Tain't pertickler safe is yon path.
Follow the righthand road.
'Tis a bit roughish in parts, but main passable."
0:00 / 0:00
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.

Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.

Chapter XXII

Chapter 22 of Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.
Line 2
"That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.
Line 3
'Tain't pertickler safe is yon path.
Line 4
Follow the righthand road.
Line 5
'Tis a bit roughish in parts, but main passable."

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.

advise verb US /ædˈvaɪz/

give advice to

From this reading “"That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cliff noun US /klɪf/

a steep high face of rock

From this reading “"That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cliffs noun US /klɪfs/

plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock

From this reading “THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fisherman noun US /ˈfɪʃərmæn/

someone whose occupation is catching fish

From this reading “THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inquiry noun US /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/

a search for knowledge

From this reading “THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
passable adjective US /ˈpæsəbəl/

able to be passed or traversed or crossed

From this reading “'Tis a bit roughish in parts, but main passable."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Peter's noun US /ˈpiːtərz/

possessive form of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading “THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
yon adjective US /jɑːn/

distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)

From this reading “'Tain't pertickler safe is yon path.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

old fisherman adjective + noun

In this reading “THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.”

584 times in 426,211 chapters
ON THE CLIFFS preposition + article + noun counted as “on … cliff”

In this reading “THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.”

1,973 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 54

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 THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
adviseverbUS /ædˈvaɪz/

give advice to

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
answerverbUS /ˈænsər/

react verbally

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
bitnounUS /bɪt/

a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading 'Tis a bit roughish in parts, but main passable."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading 'Tis a bit roughish in parts, but main passable."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
cliffnounUS /klɪf/

a steep high face of rock

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CLIFFSnounUS /klɪfs/

plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fishermannounUS /ˈfɪʃərmæn/

someone whose occupation is catching fish

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FollowverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊ/

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Follow the righthand road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fower

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

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

Pending verification
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inquirynounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/

a search for knowledge

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
mainadjectiveUS /meɪn/

most important element

From this reading 'Tis a bit roughish in parts, but main passable."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MATTERnounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
moiles

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

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

Pending verification
OnounUS /oʊ/

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ow

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

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

Pending verification
partsnounUS /pɑːrts/

the local environment

From this reading 'Tis a bit roughish in parts, but main passable."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
passableadjectiveUS /ˈpæsəbəl/

able to be passed or traversed or crossed

From this reading 'Tis a bit roughish in parts, but main passable."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pathnounUS /pæθ/

a course of conduct

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pertickler

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

From this reading 'Tain't pertickler safe is yon path.

Pending verification
Peter'snounUS /ˈpiːtərz/

possessive form of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
righthand

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

From this reading Follow the righthand road.

Pending verification
roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Follow the righthand road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roughishadjective

somewhat rough

From this reading 'Tis a bit roughish in parts, but main passable."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
safeadjectiveUS /seɪf/

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading 'Tain't pertickler safe is yon path.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Scarby

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

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

Pending verification
seeingnounUS /ˈsiːɪŋ/

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/

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

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STRUGGLEverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəl/

make a strenuous or labored effort

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tnounUS /tiː/

a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Tain't

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

From this reading 'Tain't pertickler safe is yon path.

Pending verification
takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TisnounUS /tɪz/

plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite

From this reading 'Tis a bit roughish in parts, but main passable."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS "A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wouldn't

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

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

Pending verification
yonadjectiveUS /jɑːn/

distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)

From this reading 'Tain't pertickler safe is yon path.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
you'll

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

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

Pending verification
you'm

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

From this reading "That is, if you'll be taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow you'm a stranger.

Pending verification

Chapter 22 of Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman holds 176 sentences, grouped into 36 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 22 of Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. contain?

Chapter 22 holds 176 sentences of Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S., unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 22 of Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 176 sentences, grouped into 36 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 22 of Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 22 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 22 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 Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.

Common questions about reading Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.?

Yes. All 5519 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #35362 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #35362, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. take to read?

About 459 minutes of reading across 1104 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. section by section

How to work through Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

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Vocabulary met early in Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.

Words and structures a reader meets early in Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S., each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Bells
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
First
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Watch
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Somewhere
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.