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Fenn Masterson's Discovery
Fenn Masterson's Discovery

Chapter XIV

Chapter 14 of Fenn Masterson's Discovery is here in full — 87 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Allen Chapman • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Fenn Masterson's Discovery
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.
Lower and lower sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on the beam.
The _Modoc_ heeled over more and more.
"Shut off the water!" again cried the captain.
Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was wrong.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Fenn Masterson's Discovery

Chapter XIV

Chapter 14 of Fenn Masterson's Discovery is here in full — 87 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.
/mɪˈstɪriəs ˈstreɪndʒərz ˈʌndər ðə ˈfɔːrwərd ɡeɪts ənd θruː ˈoʊpənɪŋz ɪn ðem ðə ˈwɔːtər wɑːz stɪl ˈbʌbəlɪŋ ənd ˈfoʊmɪŋ ˈsiːkɪŋ tuː ɪˈstæblɪʃ ə ˈlevəl wɪð ðæt ɑːn ðə ˈʌðər saɪd ʌv ðə ˈbæriər/
Line 2
Lower and lower sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on the beam.
/ˈloʊər ənd ˈloʊər sæŋk ðə baʊ ʌv ðə bɑːrdʒ fɔːr ɪt wɑːz held fæst ɑːn ðə biːm/
Line 3
The _Modoc_ heeled over more and more.
Line 4
"Shut off the water!" again cried the captain.
/ʃʌt ɔːf ðə ˈwɔːtər əˈɡen kraɪd ðə ˈkæptən/
Line 5
Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was wrong.
/ðen ðə əˈtendənts æt ðə lɑːk wɜːr meɪd əˈwer ðæt ˈsʌmθɪŋ wɑːz rɔːŋ/

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.

attendants noun US /əˈtendənts/

plural of “attendant” — someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another

From this reading “Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was wrong.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
barge verb US /bɑːrdʒ/

push one's way

From this reading “Lower and lower sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on the beam.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
barrier noun US /ˈbæriər/

a structure or object that impedes free movement

From this reading “MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bubbling adjective US /ˈbʌbəlɪŋ/

emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation

From this reading “MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
establish verb US /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/

set up or found

From this reading “MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
foaming adjective US /ˈfoʊmɪŋ/

emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation

From this reading “MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
heeled verb US /hiːld/

past form of “heel” — tilt to one side

From this reading “The _Modoc_ heeled over more and more.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
openings noun US /ˈoʊpənɪŋz/

plural of “opening” — an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading “MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS adjective + noun counted as “mysterious stranger”

In this reading “MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.”

553 times in 426,211 chapters
other side adjective + noun

In this reading “MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.”

46,534 times in 426,211 chapters
Shut off verb + particle

stem the flow of

In this reading “"Shut off the water!" again cried the captain.”

2,872 times in 426,211 chapters
cried the captain verb + article + noun counted as “cry … captain”

In this reading “"Shut off the water!" again cried the captain.”

1,787 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 55

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 MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading "Shut off the water!" again cried the captain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was wrong.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
attendantsnounUS /əˈtendənts/

plural of “attendant” — someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another

From this reading Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was wrong.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
awareadjectiveUS /əˈwer/

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was wrong.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bargeverbUS /bɑːrdʒ/

push one's way

From this reading Lower and lower sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on the beam.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/

a structure or object that impedes free movement

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beamnounUS /biːm/

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

From this reading Lower and lower sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on the beam.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bownounUS /baʊ/

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading Lower and lower sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on the beam.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bubblingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌbəlɪŋ/

emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
captainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading "Shut off the water!" again cried the captain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
criedverbUS /kraɪd/

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "Shut off the water!" again cried the captain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
establishverbUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/

set up or found

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fastadverbUS /fæst/

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading Lower and lower sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on the beam.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
foamingadjectiveUS /ˈfoʊmɪŋ/

emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Lower and lower sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on the beam.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/

at or to or toward the front

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gatesnounUS /ɡeɪts/

United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
heeledverbUS /hiːld/

past form of “heel” — tilt to one side

From this reading The _Modoc_ heeled over more and more.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
heldadjectiveUS /held/

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Lower and lower sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on the beam.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Lower and lower sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on the beam.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
levelnounUS /ˈlevəl/

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lockverbUS /lɑːk/

fasten with a lock

From this reading Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was wrong.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LowerverbUS /ˈloʊər/

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading Lower and lower sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on the beam.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was wrong.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Modoc

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

From this reading The _Modoc_ heeled over more and more.

Pending verification
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading The _Modoc_ heeled over more and more.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MYSTERIOUSadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/

of an obscure nature

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "Shut off the water!" again cried the captain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
openingsnounUS /ˈoʊpənɪŋz/

plural of “opening” — an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The _Modoc_ heeled over more and more.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
sankverbUS /sæŋk/

inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level

From this reading Lower and lower sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on the beam.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seekingnounUS /ˈsiːkɪŋ/

the act of searching for something

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ShutverbUS /ʃʌt/

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading "Shut off the water!" again cried the captain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was wrong.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STRANGERSnounUS /ˈstreɪndʒərz/

plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was wrong.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was wrong.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wrongadjectiveUS /rɔːŋ/

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was wrong.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 14 of Fenn Masterson's Discovery by Allen Chapman holds 87 sentences, grouped into 18 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 Fenn Masterson's Discovery contain?

Chapter 14 holds 87 sentences of Fenn Masterson's Discovery, unabridged, divided into 18 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of Fenn Masterson's Discovery by Allen Chapman exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 87 sentences, grouped into 18 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 Fenn Masterson's Discovery?

Work through the 18 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 18 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 Fenn Masterson's Discovery

Common questions about reading Fenn Masterson's Discovery by Allen Chapman on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Fenn Masterson's Discovery?

Yes. All 3480 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #37929 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Fenn Masterson's Discovery is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #37929, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Fenn Masterson's Discovery take to read?

About 290 minutes of reading across 696 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Fenn Masterson's Discovery section by section

How to work through Fenn Masterson's Discovery section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in Fenn Masterson's Discovery

Words and structures a reader meets early in Fenn Masterson's Discovery, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Darewell
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Fenn Masterson's Discovery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chums
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Fenn Masterson's Discovery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cruise
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Fenn Masterson's Discovery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Fenn Masterson's Discovery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.