Chapter 3 of Hair-Breadth Escapes is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
Chapter 3 of Hair-Breadth Escapes is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"But your shot seemed to disperse it just now." "So it did. But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed. But it is time for us to go back to our hut and finish our work. Nick, I suppose you will join us?
Chapter 3 of Hair-Breadth Escapes is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/82 · 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.
distribute loosely
From this reading “"But your shot seemed to disperse it just now."”
temporary military shelter
From this reading “But it is time for us to go back to our hut and finish our work.”
becoming greater or larger
From this reading “But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.”
an optical illusion in which atmospheric refraction by a layer of hot air distorts or inverts reflections of distant objects
From this reading “But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.”
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading “Nick, I suppose you will join us?”
relating to or derived from the sun or utilizing the energies of the sun
From this reading “But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.”
plural of “stratum” — one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock)
From this reading “But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.”
a sudden or mysterious disappearance
From this reading “But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.”
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.
belong to an earlier time
In this reading “But it is time for us to go back to our hut and finish our work.”
In this reading “But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.”
In this reading “But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.”
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 to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But it is time for us to go back to our hut and finish our work.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But your shot seemed to disperse it just now."
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "So it did.
distribute loosely
From this reading "But your shot seemed to disperse it just now."
having the place or position changed
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading But it is time for us to go back to our hut and finish our work.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But it is time for us to go back to our hut and finish our work.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But it is time for us to go back to our hut and finish our work.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
temporary military shelter
From this reading But it is time for us to go back to our hut and finish our work.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
becoming greater or larger
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it is time for us to go back to our hut and finish our work.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "But your shot seemed to disperse it just now."
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading Nick, I suppose you will join us?
and nothing more
From this reading "But your shot seemed to disperse it just now."
an optical illusion in which atmospheric refraction by a layer of hot air distorts or inverts reflections of distant objects
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading Nick, I suppose you will join us?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "But your shot seemed to disperse it just now."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
and nothing more
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading But it is time for us to go back to our hut and finish our work.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
Identical; not different.
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "But your shot seemed to disperse it just now."
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading "But your shot seemed to disperse it just now."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "So it did.
relating to or derived from the sun or utilizing the energies of the sun
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
plural of “stratum” — one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock)
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
express a supposition
From this reading Nick, I suppose you will join us?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But it is time for us to go back to our hut and finish our work.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "But your shot seemed to disperse it just now."
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But it is time for us to go back to our hut and finish our work.
a sudden or mysterious disappearance
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Nick, I suppose you will join us?
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading But it is time for us to go back to our hut and finish our work.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But my shot only disturbed the strata; and if the mirage had not been nearly on the point of vanishing, from the increasing solar heat, I doubt whether the same effect would have followed.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Nick, I suppose you will join us?
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "But your shot seemed to disperse it just now."
Chapter 3 of Hair-Breadth Escapes by H. C. (Henry Cadwallader) Adams holds 413 sentences, grouped into 83 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 3 holds 413 sentences of Hair-Breadth Escapes, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 3 of Hair-Breadth Escapes by H. C. (Henry Cadwallader) Adams exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 413 sentences, grouped into 83 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 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 83 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 3 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 Hair-Breadth Escapes by H. C. (Henry Cadwallader) Adams on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5052 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #33304 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #33304, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 421 minutes of reading across 1011 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Hair-Breadth Escapes section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 12 chapters of Hair-Breadth Escapes 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 Hair-Breadth Escapes, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
