Chapter 2 of Butterfly 9 is here in full — 439 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Butterfly 9 is here in full — 439 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window. Kersey began, "You understand, I think, that you have come back in time. About six years back." "That's a matter of opinion, but go on." "I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."
Chapter 2 of Butterfly 9 is here in full — 439 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/87 · 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.
have or possess in combination
From this reading “"I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."”
of or pertaining to or typical of Europe
From this reading “"I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."”
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading “"I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."”
someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading “"I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."”
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading “"That's a matter of opinion, but go on."”
having an owner; often used in combination
From this reading “"I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."”
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading “About six years back."”
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading “"Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window.”
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.
the highest ranking manager
In this reading “"I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."”
In this reading “About six years back."”
be restored
In this reading “Kersey began, "You understand, I think, that you have come back in time.”
In this reading “About six years back."”
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
In this reading “"That's a matter of opinion, but go on."”
In this reading “"Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window.”
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 "That's a matter of opinion, but go on."
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About six years back."
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Kersey began, "You understand, I think, that you have come back in time.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Kersey began, "You understand, I think, that you have come back in time.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "That's a matter of opinion, but go on."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."
have or possess in combination
From this reading "I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Kersey began, "You understand, I think, that you have come back in time.
of or pertaining to or typical of Europe
From this reading "I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading "I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "That's a matter of opinion, but go on."
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Kersey began, "You understand, I think, that you have come back in time.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Kersey began, "You understand, I think, that you have come back in time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Kersey began, "You understand, I think, that you have come back in time.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window.
someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading "I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "That's a matter of opinion, but go on."
a form of address for a man
From this reading "I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "That's a matter of opinion, but go on."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "That's a matter of opinion, but go on."
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading "That's a matter of opinion, but go on."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window.
having an owner; often used in combination
From this reading "I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I am general manager of Continental Radioptic Combine, owned by Mr. Dumont Bullen."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading About six years back."
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading "Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window.
express in words
From this reading "Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Kersey began, "You understand, I think, that you have come back in time.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's a matter of opinion, but go on."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Kersey began, "You understand, I think, that you have come back in time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Kersey began, "You understand, I think, that you have come back in time.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading Kersey began, "You understand, I think, that you have come back in time.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading "Tell him, Kersey," the big man said, and stared out the window.
a late time of life
From this reading About six years back."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Kersey began, "You understand, I think, that you have come back in time.
Chapter 2 of Butterfly 9 by Donald Keith holds 439 sentences, grouped into 88 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 2 holds 439 sentences of Butterfly 9, unabridged, divided into 88 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Butterfly 9 by Donald Keith exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 439 sentences, grouped into 88 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 88 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 88 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 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.
Common questions about reading Butterfly 9 by Donald Keith on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 886 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51167 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #51167, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 73 minutes of reading across 178 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Butterfly 9 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 2 chapters of Butterfly 9 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 Butterfly 9, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
