Chapter 2 of David and the Phoenix 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 David and the Phoenix is here in full — 439 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"Oh, do you have--" "Of course, my boy! I am nothing if not a good mixer. My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted. "What were those last three, please?" "Gryffins," explained the Phoenix, "are the small, reddish, friendly ones.
Chapter 2 of David and the Phoenix 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.
plural of “acquaintance” — personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading “My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.”
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading “My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.”
plural of “dragon” — a creature of Teutonic mythology; usually represented as breathing fire and having a reptilian body and sometimes wings
From this reading “My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.”
have as a part, be made up out of
From this reading “My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.”
a party of people assembled to promote sociability and communal activity
From this reading “I am nothing if not a good mixer.”
the state capital and largest city located in south central Arizona; situated in a former desert that has become a prosperous agricultural area thanks to irrigation
From this reading “"Gryffins," explained the Phoenix, "are the small, reddish, friendly ones.”
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading “"Gryffins," explained the Phoenix, "are the small, reddish, friendly ones.”
plural of “troll” — (Scandanavian folklore) a supernatural creature (either a dwarf or a giant) that is supposed to live in caves or in the mountains
From this reading “My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.”
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 I am nothing if not a good mixer.
plural of “acquaintance” — personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am nothing if not a good mixer.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Gryffins," explained the Phoenix, "are the small, reddish, friendly ones.
a youthful male person
From this reading "Oh, do you have--" "Of course, my boy!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "Oh, do you have--" "Of course, my boy!
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Oh, do you have--" "Of course, my boy!
plural of “dragon” — a creature of Teutonic mythology; usually represented as breathing fire and having a reptilian body and sometimes wings
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
accept an excuse for
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "Gryffins," explained the Phoenix, "are the small, reddish, friendly ones.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading "Gryffins," explained the Phoenix, "are the small, reddish, friendly ones.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading I am nothing if not a good mixer.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Oh, do you have--" "Of course, my boy!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I am nothing if not a good mixer.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I am nothing if not a good mixer.
have as a part, be made up out of
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
immediately past
From this reading "What were those last three, please?"
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
make reference to
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
a party of people assembled to promote sociability and communal activity
From this reading I am nothing if not a good mixer.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Oh, do you have--" "Of course, my boy!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I am nothing if not a good mixer.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading I am nothing if not a good mixer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Oh, do you have--" "Of course, my boy!
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh, do you have--" "Of course, my boy!
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "Gryffins," explained the Phoenix, "are the small, reddish, friendly ones.
the state capital and largest city located in south central Arizona; situated in a former desert that has become a prosperous agricultural area thanks to irrigation
From this reading "Gryffins," explained the Phoenix, "are the small, reddish, friendly ones.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading "What were those last three, please?"
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading "Gryffins," explained the Phoenix, "are the small, reddish, friendly ones.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Gryffins," explained the Phoenix, "are the small, reddish, friendly ones.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Gryffins," explained the Phoenix, "are the small, reddish, friendly ones.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "What were those last three, please?"
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading "What were those last three, please?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
plural of “troll” — (Scandanavian folklore) a supernatural creature (either a dwarf or a giant) that is supposed to live in caves or in the mountains
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My acquaintances (to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--" "Excuse me," David interrupted.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "What were those last three, please?"
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What were those last three, please?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Oh, do you have--" "Of course, my boy!
Chapter 2 of David and the Phoenix by Edward Ormondroyd 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 David and the Phoenix, unabridged, divided into 88 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of David and the Phoenix by Edward Ormondroyd 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 David and the Phoenix by Edward Ormondroyd on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2674 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #27922 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #27922, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 222 minutes of reading across 535 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through David and the Phoenix section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 6 chapters of David and the Phoenix 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 David and the Phoenix, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
