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Hiram in the Middle West
Hiram in the Middle West

Chapter XI

Chapter 11 of Hiram in the Middle West is here in full — 139 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Hiram in the Middle West
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.
One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.
The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.
He had already looked about the shed for anything the sick man might have dropped.
There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Hiram in the Middle West

Chapter XI

Chapter 11 of Hiram in the Middle West is here in full — 139 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.
Line 2
One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.
Line 3
The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.
Line 4
He had already looked about the shed for anything the sick man might have dropped.
/hiː hæd ɔːlˈredi lʊkt əˈbaʊt ðə ʃed fɔːr ˈeniθɪŋ ðə sɪk mæn maɪt hæv drɑːpt/
Line 5
There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

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.

farmer's noun US /ˈfɑːrmərz/

possessive form of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm

From this reading “The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.”

frayed adjective US /freɪd/

worn away or tattered along the edges

From this reading “One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.”

friction noun US /ˈfrɪkʃən/

a state of conflict between persons

From this reading “FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.”

frisky adjective US /ˈfrɪski/

playful like a lively kitten

From this reading “FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.”

glint verb US /ɡlɪnt/

be shiny, as if wet

From this reading “The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.”

keepsake noun US /ˈkiːpseɪk/

something of sentimental value

From this reading “There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.”

steers noun US /stɪrz/

plural of “steer” — an indication of potential opportunity

From this reading “FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.”

yearling noun US /ˈjɜːrlɪŋ/

a young child

From this reading “FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.”

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.

picked up verb + adjective counted as “pick up”

take and lift upward

In this reading “FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.”

sick man adjective + noun

In this reading “He had already looked about the shed for anything the sick man might have dropped.”

glint of verb + particle

In this reading “The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.”

young farmer's adjective + noun counted as “young farmer”

In this reading “The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.”

ran into verb + particle counted as “run into”

be beset by

In this reading “The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.”

went into verb + particle counted as “go into”

to come or go into

In this reading “One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.”

looked about verb + particle counted as “look about”

In this reading “He had already looked about the shed for anything the sick man might have dropped.”

All words in this reading · 108

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 One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

absolutelyadverbUS /ˌæbsəˈluːtli/

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

AdamnounUS /ˈædəm/

(Old Testament) in Judeo-Christian mythology; the first man and the husband of Eve and the progenitor of the human race

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading He had already looked about the shed for anything the sick man might have dropped.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading He had already looked about the shed for anything the sick man might have dropped.

arriveverbUS /ərˈaɪv/

reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

BanksnounUS /bæŋks/

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

beamsnounUS /biːmz/

plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

bitnounUS /bɪt/

a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

blatting

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

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

bricksnounUS /brɪks/

plural of “brick” — rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

bringingnounUS /ˈbrɪŋɪŋ/

the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

Bronson

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

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

broughtverbUS /brɔːt/

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

buildingnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋ/

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

cattlenounUS /ˈkætəl/

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

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 The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

clothesnounUS /kloʊðz/

clothing in general

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

creaturesnounUS /ˈkriːtʃərz/

plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

declaredadjectiveUS /dɪˈklerd/

made known or openly avowed

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

droppedverbUS /drɑːpt/

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

From this reading He had already looked about the shed for anything the sick man might have dropped.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

eyenounUS /aɪ/

the organ of sight

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

farmer'snounUS /ˈfɑːrmərz/

possessive form of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

farmsnounUS /fɑːrmz/

plural of “farm” — workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had already looked about the shed for anything the sick man might have dropped.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

frayedadjectiveUS /freɪd/

worn away or tattered along the edges

From this reading One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

FRICTIONnounUS /ˈfrɪkʃən/

a state of conflict between persons

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

friskyadjectiveUS /ˈfrɪski/

playful like a lively kitten

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

glintverbUS /ɡlɪnt/

be shiny, as if wet

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He had already looked about the shed for anything the sick man might have dropped.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

Hiram

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

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

insteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

keepsakenounUS /ˈkiːpseɪk/

something of sentimental value

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He had already looked about the shed for anything the sick man might have dropped.

lumbernounUS /ˈlʌmbər/

the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading He had already looked about the shed for anything the sick man might have dropped.

materialadjectiveUS /məˈtɪriəl/

concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He had already looked about the shed for anything the sick man might have dropped.

MissverbUS /mɪs/

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

necknounUS /nek/

the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body

From this reading One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

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

From this reading One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

Orrin

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

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

papernounUS /ˈpeɪpər/

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

pennounUS /pen/

a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

pickedverbUS /pɪkt/

past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

pipenounUS /paɪp/

a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

pocketknifenoun

a knife with a blade that folds into the handle; suitable for carrying in the pocket

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

PostverbUS /poʊst/

affix in a public place or for public notice

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

Pringle

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

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

propertynounUS /ˈprɑːpərti/

something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

removeverbUS /riˈmuːv/

remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

ropenounUS /roʊp/

a strong line

From this reading One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

shedverbUS /ʃed/

get rid of

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

sickadjectiveUS /sɪk/

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading He had already looked about the shed for anything the sick man might have dropped.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

steersnounUS /stɪrz/

plural of “steer” — an indication of potential opportunity

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/

past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

Sunnyside

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

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There had been absolutely nothing in his clothes but a little change and a pocketknife--no letter, or paper, or keepsake of any kind.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

trucknounUS /trʌk/

an automotive vehicle suitable for hauling

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading The yearling ran into the far corner of the shed and while he struggled to remove the rope, the young farmer's eye caught the glint of something on the beams where he had found the pipe that Miss Pringle declared was Adam Banks' property.

yearlingnounUS /ˈjɜːrlɪŋ/

a young child

From this reading FRICTION The first truck to arrive that day at Sunnyside instead of bringing lumber, bricks, or other building material, brought ten yearling steers that Mr. Bronson had picked up from his other farms; and Hiram turned the blatting, frisky creatures into the pen and shed in which he had found Orrin Post the evening before.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading One of the young cattle had a frayed bit of rope about its neck, and Hiram went into the pen to get it off.

Chapter 11 of Hiram in the Middle West by Burbank L. Todd holds 139 sentences, grouped into 28 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 11 of Hiram in the Middle West contain?

Chapter 11 holds 139 sentences of Hiram in the Middle West, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of Hiram in the Middle West by Burbank L. Todd exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 139 sentences, grouped into 28 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 11 of Hiram in the Middle West?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 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 11 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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 Hiram in the Middle West

Common questions about reading Hiram in the Middle West by Burbank L. Todd on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Hiram in the Middle West?

Yes. All 4253 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #75408 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Hiram in the Middle West is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #75408, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Hiram in the Middle West take to read?

About 354 minutes of reading across 851 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Hiram in the Middle West section by section

How to work through Hiram in the Middle West section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 32 chapters of Hiram in the Middle West to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in Hiram in the Middle West

Words and structures a reader meets early in Hiram in the Middle West, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Afraid
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hiram in the Middle West; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Accommodation
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hiram in the Middle West; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Train
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hiram in the Middle West; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stopped
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hiram in the Middle West; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.