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Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life
Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life is here in full — 443 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life
Context Illustration Reading 1/88 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?
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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.

Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life is here in full — 443 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/88 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Line 2
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Line 3
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Line 4
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Line 5
And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

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.

battle's noun US /ˈbætəlz/

possessive form of “battle” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading “And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?”

bombs noun US /bɑːmz/

plural of “bomb” — an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions

From this reading “Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

conceals verb US /kənˈsiːlz/

third-person singular of “conceal” — prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading “On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?”

dawn's noun US /dɔːnz/

possessive form of “dawn” — the first light of day

From this reading “THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?”

discloses verb US /dɪˈskloʊzɪz/

third-person singular of “disclose” — make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret

From this reading “On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?”

fitfully adverb US /ˈfɪtfəli/

in a fitful manner

From this reading “On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?”

rampart noun US /ˈræmpɑːrt/

an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes

From this reading “Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

rocket's noun US /ˈrɑːkəts/

possessive form of “rocket” — any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine

From this reading “Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

All words in this reading · 114

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 And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

bandnounUS /bænd/

an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

BANNERnounUS /ˈbænər/

long strip of cloth or paper used for decoration or advertising

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

battle'snounUS /ˈbætəlz/

possessive form of “battle” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

beamnounUS /biːm/

a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

blowsnounUS /bloʊz/

plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

bombsnounUS /bɑːmz/

plural of “bomb” — an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

braveadjectiveUS /breɪv/

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

breezenounUS /briːz/

a slight wind (usually refreshing)

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

broadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/

-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

catchesnounUS /ˈkætʃəz/

plural of “catch” — a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

concealsverbUS /kənˈsiːlz/

third-person singular of “conceal” — prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

confusionnounUS /kənˈfjuːʒən/

disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

dawn'snounUS /dɔːnz/

possessive form of “dawn” — the first light of day

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

deepadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/

in a dim indistinct manner

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

disclosesverbUS /dɪˈskloʊzɪz/

third-person singular of “disclose” — make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

dreadnounUS /dred/

fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

fightverbUS /faɪt/

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

fitfullyadverbUS /ˈfɪtfəli/

in a fitful manner

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

flagnounUS /flæɡ/

emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

foe's

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

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

freeverbUS /friː/

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

gallantlyadverbUS /ˈɡæləntli/

in a gallant manner

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

GaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

glarenounUS /ɡler/

a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/

be shiny, as if wet

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

gleamingnounUS /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/

a flash of light (especially reflected light)

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

glorynounUS /ˈɡlɔːri/

a state of high honor

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

hailedverbUS /heɪld/

past form of “hail” — praise vociferously

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

haughtyadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːti/

having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

havocnounUS /ˈhævək/

violent and needless disturbance

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

hostnounUS /hoʊst/

a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

landnounUS /lænd/

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

leaveverbUS /liːv/

go away from a place

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

mistsnounUS /mɪsts/

plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

morning'snounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋz/

possessive form of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

nightnounUS /naɪt/

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

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O'eradverb

throughout a period of time

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

perilousadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/

fraught with danger

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

proofnounUS /pruːf/

any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

proudlyadverbUS /ˈpraʊdli/

with pride; in a proud manner

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

rampartnounUS /ˈræmpɑːrt/

an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

reflectedadjectiveUS /rɪˈflektɪd/

(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

reposes

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

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

rocket'snounUS /ˈrɑːkəts/

possessive form of “rocket” — any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

shinesnounUS /ʃaɪnz/

plural of “shine” — the quality of being bright and sending out rays of light

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

shorenounUS /ʃɔːr/

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

STAR-SPANGLED

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

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

starsnounUS /stɑːrz/

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

steepadjectiveUS /stiːp/

having a sharp inclination

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

streamnounUS /striːm/

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

streamingadjectiveUS /ˈstriːmɪŋ/

exuding a bodily fluid in profuse amounts

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

stripesnounUS /straɪps/

V-shaped sleeve badge indicating military rank and service

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

sworeverbUS /swɔːr/

inflected form of “swear” — utter obscenities or profanities

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

TisnounUS /tɪz/

plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite

From this reading Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner' oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

toweringadjectiveUS /ˈtaʊərɪŋ/

of imposing height; especially standing out above others

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

twilight's

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

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

uspronounUS /ʌs/

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

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

vauntinglyadverb

in a boastful manner

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

warnounUS /wɔːr/

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

wavenounUS /weɪv/

one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

WhereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

WhosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the rampart we watched, were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Chapter 5 of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life by Orison Swett Marden holds 443 sentences, grouped into 89 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 5 of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life contain?

Chapter 5 holds 443 sentences of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life, unabridged, divided into 89 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life by Orison Swett Marden exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 443 sentences, grouped into 89 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 5 of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life?

Work through the 89 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 89 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life

Common questions about reading Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life by Orison Swett Marden on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life?

Yes. All 2191 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4597 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4597, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life take to read?

About 182 minutes of reading across 439 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life section by section

How to work through Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 5 chapters of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life 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 Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life

Words and structures a reader meets early in Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Living
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Supreme
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Objects
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Struggle
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.