Ghetto Tragedies

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of Ghetto Tragedies is here in full — 425 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Israel Zangwill • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

As he opened his eyes, he perceived in the distance high in air, rising far above the Island, a great mist of shining spray, amid which rainbows netted and tangled themselves in ineffable dream-like loveliness.

At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

"Niagara," murmured the Indian.

But Peloni's eyes were fixed on the celestial vision.

"The _Shechinah_!" he whispered.

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter V Reading 1/85

Ghetto Tragedies

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of Ghetto Tragedies is here in full — 425 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Line 2

At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

Line 3

"Niagara," murmured the Indian.

/naɪˈæɡrə ˈmɜːrmərd ðə ˈɪndiən/

Line 4

But Peloni's eyes were fixed on the celestial vision.

Line 5

"The _Shechinah_!" he whispered.

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.

boom verb US /buːm/

make a resonant sound, like artillery

From this reading “At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.”

celestial adjective US /səˈlestʃəl/

of or relating to the sky

From this reading “But Peloni's eyes were fixed on the celestial vision.”

ineffable adjective US /ˌɪˈnefəbəl/

defying expression or description

From this reading “As he opened his eyes, he perceived in the distance high in air, rising far above the Island, a great mist of shining spray, amid which rainbows netted and tangled themselves in ineffable dream-like loveliness.”

mightier adjective US /ˈmaɪtiər/

comparative of “mighty” — having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading “At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.”

netted adjective US /ˈnetɪd/

having open interstices or resembling a web

Niagara noun US /naɪˈæɡrə/

waterfall in Canada is the Horseshoe Falls; in the United States it is the American Falls

From this reading “"Niagara," murmured the Indian.”

rainbows noun US /ˈreɪnboʊz/

plural of “rainbow” — an arc of colored light in the sky caused by refraction of the sun's rays by rain

rapids noun US /ˈræpədz/

plural of “rapid” — a part of a river where the current is very fast

From this reading “At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.”

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.

same instant adjective + noun

In this reading “At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.”

first hint adjective + noun

In this reading “At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.”

in the distance preposition + article + noun counted as “in … distance”

In this reading “As he opened his eyes, he perceived in the distance high in air, rising far above the Island, a great mist of shining spray, amid which rainbows netted and tangled themselves in ineffable dream-like loveliness.”

mist of verb + particle

All words in this reading · 58

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 As he opened his eyes, he perceived in the distance high in air, rising far above the Island, a great mist of shining spray, amid which rainbows netted and tangled themselves in ineffable dream-like loveliness.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

airnounUS /er/

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

amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/

in the middle of; surrounded by

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

boomverbUS /buːm/

make a resonant sound, like artillery

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Peloni's eyes were fixed on the celestial vision.

caughtverbUS /kɑːt/

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

celestialadjectiveUS /səˈlestʃəl/

of or relating to the sky

From this reading But Peloni's eyes were fixed on the celestial vision.

distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/

the property created by the space between two objects or points

dream-like

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

earnounUS /iːr/

the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

fixedadjectiveUS /fɪkst/

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading But Peloni's eyes were fixed on the celestial vision.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

hintnounUS /hɪnt/

an indirect suggestion

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

IndianadjectiveUS /ˈɪndiən/

of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures

From this reading "Niagara," murmured the Indian.

ineffableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnefəbəl/

defying expression or description

instantnounUS /ˈɪnstənt/

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

IslandnounUS /ˈaɪlənd/

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

lovelinessnoun

the quality of being good looking and attractive

majesticadjectiveUS /məˈdʒestɪk/

majestic in manner or bearing; superior to mundane matters

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

mightieradjectiveUS /ˈmaɪtiər/

comparative of “mighty” — having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

mistverbUS /mɪst/

become covered with mist

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

murmuredverbUS /ˈmɜːrmərd/

past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly

From this reading "Niagara," murmured the Indian.

nettedadjectiveUS /ˈnetɪd/

having open interstices or resembling a web

NiagaranounUS /naɪˈæɡrə/

waterfall in Canada is the Horseshoe Falls; in the United States it is the American Falls

From this reading "Niagara," murmured the Indian.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But Peloni's eyes were fixed on the celestial vision.

openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/

used of mouth or eyes

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

Peloni's

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

From this reading But Peloni's eyes were fixed on the celestial vision.

perceivedadjectiveUS /pərˈsiːvd/

detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues

rainbowsnounUS /ˈreɪnboʊz/

plural of “rainbow” — an arc of colored light in the sky caused by refraction of the sun's rays by rain

rapidsnounUS /ˈræpədz/

plural of “rapid” — a part of a river where the current is very fast

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

risingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪzɪŋ/

advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status

roarverbUS /rɔːr/

make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading At the same instant his ear caught--over the boom of the rapids--the first hint of another, a mightier, a more majestic roar.

Shechinah

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

From this reading "The _Shechinah_!" he whispered.

shiningadjectiveUS /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/

marked by exceptional merit

spraynounUS /spreɪ/

a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying

tangledadjectiveUS /ˈtæŋɡəld/

in a confused mass

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

visionnounUS /ˈvɪʒən/

a vivid mental image

From this reading But Peloni's eyes were fixed on the celestial vision.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading But Peloni's eyes were fixed on the celestial vision.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

whisperedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪspərd/

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading "The _Shechinah_!" he whispered.

Chapter 5 of Ghetto Tragedies by Israel Zangwill holds 425 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.

What does chapter 5 of Ghetto Tragedies contain?

Chapter 5 holds 425 sentences of Ghetto Tragedies, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Ghetto Tragedies by Israel Zangwill exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 425 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.

How do I study chapter 5 of Ghetto Tragedies?

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.

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 Ghetto Tragedies

Common questions about reading Ghetto Tragedies by Israel Zangwill on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Ghetto Tragedies?

Yes. All 7031 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #35076 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Ghetto Tragedies is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #35076, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Ghetto Tragedies take to read?

About 585 minutes of reading across 1407 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Chapter V

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