Chapter 18 of Good References is here in full — 289 sentences across 58 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVIII
Chapter 18 of Good References is here in full — 289 sentences across 58 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other. "Where did you learn to swim, anyhow?" demanded Pete Stearns. "You never said a word about it until this afternoon." "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap. "I believe you.
Chapter 18 of Good References is here in full — 289 sentences across 58 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/57 · 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.
the condition of being secured to a base
From this reading “CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.”
float on the surface of water
From this reading “CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.”
plural of “castaway” — a person who is rejected (from society or home)
From this reading “CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.”
fasten with a lock
From this reading “"I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.”
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading “"I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.”
travel through water
From this reading “"Where did you learn to swim, anyhow?" demanded Pete Stearns.”
plural of “swimmer” — a trained athlete who participates in swimming meets
From this reading “CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.”
-ing form of “tuck” — fit snugly into
From this reading “"I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.”
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.
In this reading “CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.”
In this reading “CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "You never said a word about it until this afternoon."
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "You never said a word about it until this afternoon."
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading "You never said a word about it until this afternoon."
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
the condition of being secured to a base
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
From this reading "Where did you learn to swim, anyhow?" demanded Pete Stearns.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading "I believe you.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
float on the surface of water
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.
plural of “castaway” — a person who is rejected (from society or home)
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "Where did you learn to swim, anyhow?" demanded Pete Stearns.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Where did you learn to swim, anyhow?" demanded Pete Stearns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "You never said a word about it until this afternoon."
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading "Where did you learn to swim, anyhow?" demanded Pete Stearns.
fasten with a lock
From this reading "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "You never said a word about it until this afternoon."
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where did you learn to swim, anyhow?" demanded Pete Stearns.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You never said a word about it until this afternoon."
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where did you learn to swim, anyhow?" demanded Pete Stearns.
travel through water
From this reading "Where did you learn to swim, anyhow?" demanded Pete Stearns.
plural of “swimmer” — a trained athlete who participates in swimming meets
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
express in words
From this reading "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "You never said a word about it until this afternoon."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Where did you learn to swim, anyhow?" demanded Pete Stearns.
-ing form of “tuck” — fit snugly into
From this reading "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading CASTAWAYS Two swimmers rested for breath at an anchorage buoy and smiled at each other.
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.
up to a particular time
From this reading "You never said a word about it until this afternoon."
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading "I don't tell all I know," said Mary, tucking a wet lock under the scarlet cap.
in or at the place that
From this reading "Where did you learn to swim, anyhow?" demanded Pete Stearns.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading "You never said a word about it until this afternoon."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Where did you learn to swim, anyhow?" demanded Pete Stearns.
Chapter 18 of Good References by E. J. Rath holds 289 sentences, grouped into 58 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 18 holds 289 sentences of Good References, unabridged, divided into 58 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 18 of Good References by E. J. Rath exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 289 sentences, grouped into 58 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 58 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 58 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 18 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 Good References by E. J. Rath on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 6937 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #42754 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #42754, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 578 minutes of reading across 1388 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Good References section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 25 chapters of Good References 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 Good References, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
