Dangerous Ages

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Dangerous Ages is here in full — 82 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Rose Macaulay • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

YOUTH TO YOUTH Kay was home for the Christmas vacation.

He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

He was learning printing and binding, and wanted Gerda to learn too.

"Because, if you're really not going to marry Barry, and if Barry sticks to not having you without, you'll be rather at a loose end, won't you, and you may as well come and help us with the press....

But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XIV Reading 1/16

Dangerous Ages Rose Macaulay

Chapter XIV

Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Dangerous Ages is here in full — 82 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

YOUTH TO YOUTH Kay was home for the Christmas vacation. He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year. He was learning printing and binding, and wanted Gerda to learn too. "Because, if you're really not going to marry Barry, and if Barry sticks to not having you without, you'll be rather at a loose end, won't you, and you may as well come and help us with the press.... But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

Dangerous Ages

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Dangerous Ages is here in full — 82 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

YOUTH TO YOUTH Kay was home for the Christmas vacation.

Line 2

He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

Line 3

He was learning printing and binding, and wanted Gerda to learn too.

Line 4

"Because, if you're really not going to marry Barry, and if Barry sticks to not having you without, you'll be rather at a loose end, won't you, and you may as well come and help us with the press....

Line 5

But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

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 “But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."”

binding noun US /ˈbaɪndɪŋ/

the capacity to attract and hold something

From this reading “He was learning printing and binding, and wanted Gerda to learn too.”

Cambridge noun US /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/

a university in England

From this reading “He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.”

establishing verb US /ɪˈstæblɪʃɪŋ/

-ing form of “establish” — set up or found

From this reading “He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.”

printing noun US /ˈprɪntɪŋ/

text handwritten in the style of printed matter

From this reading “He was learning printing and binding, and wanted Gerda to learn too.”

schemes noun US /skiːmz/

plural of “scheme” — an elaborate and systematic plan of action

From this reading “He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.”

sticks noun US /stɪks/

plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood

From this reading “"Because, if you're really not going to marry Barry, and if Barry sticks to not having you without, you'll be rather at a loose end, won't you, and you may as well come and help us with the press....”

vacation noun US /veɪˈkeɪʃən/

leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading “YOUTH TO YOUTH Kay was home for the Christmas vacation.”

All words in this reading · 72

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 He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

absentlyadverb

in an absentminded or preoccupied manner

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

addedverbUS /ˈædəd/

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

adviseverbUS /ædˈvaɪz/

give advice to

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading He was learning printing and binding, and wanted Gerda to learn too.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Because, if you're really not going to marry Barry, and if Barry sticks to not having you without, you'll be rather at a loose end, won't you, and you may as well come and help us with the press....

Barry

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

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

BecauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

bindingnounUS /ˈbaɪndɪŋ/

the capacity to attract and hold something

From this reading He was learning printing and binding, and wanted Gerda to learn too.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

CambridgenounUS /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/

a university in England

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

ChristmasnounUS /ˈkrɪsməs/

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading YOUTH TO YOUTH Kay was home for the Christmas vacation.

co-operative

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

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

establishingverbUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃɪŋ/

-ing form of “establish” — set up or found

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading YOUTH TO YOUTH Kay was home for the Christmas vacation.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

Gerda

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

From this reading He was learning printing and binding, and wanted Gerda to learn too.

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

helpverbUS /help/

give help or assistance; be of service

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading YOUTH TO YOUTH Kay was home for the Christmas vacation.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

Kay

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

From this reading YOUTH TO YOUTH Kay was home for the Christmas vacation.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

learnverbUS /lɜːrn/

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading He was learning printing and binding, and wanted Gerda to learn too.

learningnounUS /ˈlɜːrnɪŋ/

the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge

From this reading He was learning printing and binding, and wanted Gerda to learn too.

looseadjectiveUS /luːs/

not compact or dense in structure or arrangement

marryverbUS /ˈmeri/

take in marriage

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

pressverbUS /pres/

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

printingnounUS /ˈprɪntɪŋ/

text handwritten in the style of printed matter

From this reading He was learning printing and binding, and wanted Gerda to learn too.

ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/

on the contrary

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

schemesnounUS /skiːmz/

plural of “scheme” — an elaborate and systematic plan of action

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

sticksnounUS /stɪks/

plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading YOUTH TO YOUTH Kay was home for the Christmas vacation.

thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading YOUTH TO YOUTH Kay was home for the Christmas vacation.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading He was learning printing and binding, and wanted Gerda to learn too.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading But of course, you know," Kay added absently, his thoughts still on the press, "I should advise you to give up on that point."

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

vacationnounUS /veɪˈkeɪʃən/

leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading YOUTH TO YOUTH Kay was home for the Christmas vacation.

wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading He was learning printing and binding, and wanted Gerda to learn too.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading YOUTH TO YOUTH Kay was home for the Christmas vacation.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

won't

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

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading He was full, not so much of Cambridge, as of schemes for establishing a co-operative press next year.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

you'll

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

you're

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

YOUTHnounUS /juːθ/

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading YOUTH TO YOUTH Kay was home for the Christmas vacation.

Chapter 14 of Dangerous Ages by Rose Macaulay holds 82 sentences, grouped into 17 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 14 of Dangerous Ages contain?

Chapter 14 holds 82 sentences of Dangerous Ages, unabridged, divided into 17 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of Dangerous Ages by Rose Macaulay exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 82 sentences, grouped into 17 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 14 of Dangerous Ages?

Work through the 17 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 17 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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 Dangerous Ages

Common questions about reading Dangerous Ages by Rose Macaulay on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Dangerous Ages?

Yes. All 4519 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #16799 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #16799, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Dangerous Ages take to read?

About 376 minutes of reading across 904 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Dangerous Ages

Words and structures a reader meets early in Dangerous Ages, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Neville: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dangerous Ages; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
O'clock: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dangerous Ages; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
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Man's: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dangerous Ages; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

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