Chapter 8 of Empire Builders is here in full — 423 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VIII
Chapter 8 of Empire Builders is here in full — 423 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
She was regarding him accusingly now. "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air. He was glad to be able to tell the truth without flinching. "No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it. I am willing to defend his choice, though.
Chapter 8 of Empire Builders is here in full — 423 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/84 · 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.
in an accusing manner
From this reading “She was regarding him accusingly now.”
someone who is the first to think of or make something
From this reading “"No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it.”
(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early
From this reading “"No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it.”
-ing form of “flinch” — draw back, as with fear or pain
From this reading “He was glad to be able to tell the truth without flinching.”
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading “"Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.”
superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified
From this reading “"Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.”
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading “"No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it.”
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading “She was regarding him accusingly now.”
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.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading He was glad to be able to tell the truth without flinching.
in an accusing manner
From this reading She was regarding him accusingly now.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am willing to defend his choice, though.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was glad to be able to tell the truth without flinching.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading I am willing to defend his choice, though.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it.
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading I am willing to defend his choice, though.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
someone who is the first to think of or make something
From this reading "No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it.
(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early
From this reading "No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it.
-ing form of “flinch” — draw back, as with fear or pain
From this reading He was glad to be able to tell the truth without flinching.
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading He was glad to be able to tell the truth without flinching.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was glad to be able to tell the truth without flinching.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She was regarding him accusingly now.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I am willing to defend his choice, though.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it.
not any; not one
From this reading "No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She was regarding him accusingly now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it.
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading "No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it.
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading She was regarding him accusingly now.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was regarding him accusingly now.
express a supposition
From this reading "No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it.
express in words
From this reading He was glad to be able to tell the truth without flinching.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I am willing to defend his choice, though.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was glad to be able to tell the truth without flinching.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading He was glad to be able to tell the truth without flinching.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was regarding him accusingly now.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading I am willing to defend his choice, though.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He was glad to be able to tell the truth without flinching.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Did you--did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
Chapter 8 of Empire Builders by Francis Lynde holds 423 sentences, grouped into 85 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 8 holds 423 sentences of Empire Builders, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 8 of Empire Builders by Francis Lynde exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 423 sentences, grouped into 85 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 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 85 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 8 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 Empire Builders by Francis Lynde on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5002 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #16630 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #16630, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 416 minutes of reading across 1001 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Empire Builders section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 12 chapters of Empire Builders 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 Empire Builders, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
