Chapter 1 of Brigands of the Moon is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Brigands of the Moon is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Yet I thought now that I could hear something. Vague footfalls. A rustling. And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us. Snap was fumbling in his pocket.
Chapter 1 of Brigands of the Moon is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 47/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 231–235
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.
an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
From this reading “And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.”
showing lack of skill or aptitude
From this reading “Snap was fumbling in his pocket.”
of or relating to or used in microscopy
From this reading “And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.”
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading “And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.”
the stealing of cattle
From this reading “A rustling.”
utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading “Snap was fumbling in his pocket.”
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading “Vague footfalls.”
move with a whining sound
From this reading “And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A rustling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Yet I thought now that I could hear something.
an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
From this reading And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vague footfalls.
showing lack of skill or aptitude
From this reading Snap was fumbling in his pocket.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Yet I thought now that I could hear something.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Snap was fumbling in his pocket.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Yet I thought now that I could hear something.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Snap was fumbling in his pocket.
of or relating to or used in microscopy
From this reading And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Yet I thought now that I could hear something.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading Snap was fumbling in his pocket.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.
the stealing of cattle
From this reading A rustling.
utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading Snap was fumbling in his pocket.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Yet I thought now that I could hear something.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet I thought now that I could hear something.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Yet I thought now that I could hear something.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading Vague footfalls.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Snap was fumbling in his pocket.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.
move with a whining sound
From this reading And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading And a microscopic whine, as though some device were within range of us.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet I thought now that I could hear something.
Chapter 1 of Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings holds 415 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 1 holds 415 sentences of Brigands of the Moon, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 415 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 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.
Common questions about reading Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 7750 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #19066 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #19066, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1550 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Brigands of the Moon section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 19 chapters of Brigands of the Moon 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 Brigands of the Moon, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
