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Conditionally Human
Conditionally Human

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Conditionally Human is here in full — 456 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Conditionally Human
Context Illustration Reading 1/91 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
* * * * * Anne was asleep when he left the house.
The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.
He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.
Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.
Why should he have to kill the things?
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Conditionally Human

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Conditionally Human is here in full — 456 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/91 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
* * * * * Anne was asleep when he left the house.
/æn wɑːz əˈsliːp wen hiː left ðə haʊs/
Line 2
The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.
/ðə naɪt mɪst hæd ˈɡæðərd ˈɪntuː klaʊdz ðæt meɪd ə ˈɡluːmi ˈmɔːrnɪŋ ʌv ɪt/
Line 3
He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.
Line 4
Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.
/stɪl hiː felt ðə naɪts ɡɪlt laɪk ə ˈstɪki duː ðæt rəˈfjuːzd tuː dɪˈpɑːrt wɪð ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
Line 5
Why should he have to kill the things?
/waɪ ʃʊd hiː hæv tuː kɪl ðə θɪŋz/

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.

depart verb US /dɪˈpɑːrt/

move away from a place into another direction

From this reading “Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.”

dew noun US /duː/

water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air

From this reading “Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.”

gloomy adjective US /ˈɡluːmi/

depressingly dark

From this reading “The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.”

guilt noun US /ɡɪlt/

the state of having committed an offense

From this reading “Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.”

mist verb US /mɪst/

become covered with mist

From this reading “The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.”

night's noun US /naɪts/

possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading “Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.”

sticky adjective US /ˈstɪki/

having the sticky properties of an adhesive

From this reading “Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.”

testing noun US /ˈtestɪŋ/

the act of subjecting to experimental test in order to determine how well something works

From this reading “He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.”

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.

rest of verb + particle

In this reading “He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.”

All words in this reading · 53

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.

99

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

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.

AnnenounUS /æn/

Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)

From this reading * * * * * Anne was asleep when he left the house.

asleepadjectiveUS /əˈsliːp/

in a state of sleep

From this reading * * * * * Anne was asleep when he left the house.

beginverbUS /bɪˈɡɪn/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

Bermuda-K

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

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

cloudsnounUS /klaʊdz/

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

departverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrt/

move away from a place into another direction

From this reading Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.

dewnounUS /duː/

water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air

From this reading Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.

drovenounUS /droʊv/

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.

gatheredadjectiveUS /ˈɡæðərd/

brought together in one place

From this reading The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

gloomyadjectiveUS /ˈɡluːmi/

depressingly dark

From this reading The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.

guiltnounUS /ɡɪlt/

the state of having committed an offense

From this reading Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Why should he have to kill the things?

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading * * * * * Anne was asleep when he left the house.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading * * * * * Anne was asleep when he left the house.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.

kennel-truck

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

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

killverbUS /kɪl/

cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading Why should he have to kill the things?

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading * * * * * Anne was asleep when he left the house.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.

meaningnounUS /ˈmiːnɪŋ/

the message that is intended or expressed or signified

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

mistverbUS /mɪst/

become covered with mist

From this reading The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.

night'snounUS /naɪts/

possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

refusedverbUS /rəˈfjuːzd/

past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards

From this reading Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.

restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

snounUS /es/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Why should he have to kill the things?

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

stickyadjectiveUS /ˈstɪki/

having the sticky properties of an adhesive

From this reading Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.

StilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.

testingnounUS /ˈtestɪŋ/

the act of subjecting to experimental test in order to determine how well something works

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The night mist had gathered into clouds that made a gloomy morning of it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading * * * * * Anne was asleep when he left the house.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Why should he have to kill the things?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He drove on out in the kennel-truck, meaning to get the rest of the Bermuda-K-99s so that he could begin his testing.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading * * * * * Anne was asleep when he left the house.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading * * * * * Anne was asleep when he left the house.

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Why should he have to kill the things?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Still he felt the night's guilt, like a sticky dew that refused to depart with morning.

Chapter 2 of Conditionally Human by Walter M. Miller holds 456 sentences, grouped into 92 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 2 of Conditionally Human contain?

Chapter 2 holds 456 sentences of Conditionally Human, unabridged, divided into 92 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Conditionally Human by Walter M. Miller exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 456 sentences, grouped into 92 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 2 of Conditionally Human?

Work through the 92 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 92 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 2 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading Conditionally Human

Common questions about reading Conditionally Human by Walter M. Miller on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Conditionally Human?

Yes. All 912 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51651 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Conditionally Human is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #51651, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Conditionally Human take to read?

About 76 minutes of reading across 183 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Conditionally Human section by section

How to work through Conditionally Human section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 2 chapters of Conditionally Human to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in Conditionally Human

Words and structures a reader meets early in Conditionally Human, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Walter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Conditionally Human; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Miller
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Conditionally Human; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Synthetic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Conditionally Human; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Creatures
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Conditionally Human; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.