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Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea
Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A NOMINAL IMPRISONMENT The evening passed pleasantly.
There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.
In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.
"Why, you foolish boys," Paulina said, "where would you escape to?
However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A NOMINAL IMPRISONMENT The evening passed pleasantly.
/ə ˈnɑːmənəl ˌɪmˈprɪzənmənt ðə ˈiːvnɪŋ pæst ˈplezəntli/
Line 2
There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.
Line 3
In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.
/ɪn ðə kɔːrs ʌv ðə ˈiːvnɪŋ ðə bɔɪz ɪkˈspleɪnd ðæt ðeɪ hæd sed ˈnʌθɪŋ tuː ðə ˌkɑːmənˈdɑːnt əˈbaʊt ðer ˈhævɪŋ pɪkt ʌp ə ˈlɪtəl ˈrʌʃən æz ðeɪ hæd θɔːt ðæt ɪt wɑːz ˈbetər tuː əˈlaʊ hɪm tuː rɪˈmeɪn ɪn ˈɪɡnərəns ʌv ɪt æz ðeɪ hæd hæd sʌm aɪˈdiːə ʌv ˈmeɪkɪŋ ðer ɪˈskeɪp/
Line 4
"Why, you foolish boys," Paulina said, "where would you escape to?
Line 5
However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

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.

annoy verb US /əˈnɔɪ/

cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations

From this reading “However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."”

catches noun US /ˈkætʃəz/

plural of “catch” — a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident

From this reading “There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.”

commandant noun US /ˌkɑːmənˈdɑːnt/

an officer in command of a military unit

From this reading “In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.”

imprisonment noun US /ˌɪmˈprɪzənmənt/

putting someone in prison or in jail as lawful punishment

From this reading “A NOMINAL IMPRISONMENT The evening passed pleasantly.”

lodged verb US /lɑːdʒd/

past form of “lodge” — be a lodger; stay temporarily

From this reading “However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."”

musical adjective US /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/

characterized by or capable of producing music

From this reading “There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.”

nominal adjective US /ˈnɑːmənəl/

relating to or constituting or bearing or giving a name

From this reading “A NOMINAL IMPRISONMENT The evening passed pleasantly.”

pleasantly adverb US /ˈplezəntli/

in a cheerful manner

From this reading “A NOMINAL IMPRISONMENT The evening passed pleasantly.”

All words in this reading · 100

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 A NOMINAL IMPRISONMENT The evening passed pleasantly.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

accustomedadjectiveUS /əˈkʌstəmd/

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

allowverbUS /əˈlaʊ/

make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

annoyverbUS /əˈnɔɪ/

cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

boysnounUS /bɔɪz/

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

catchesnounUS /ˈkætʃəz/

plural of “catch” — a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

commandantnounUS /ˌkɑːmənˈdɑːnt/

an officer in command of a military unit

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

else

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

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

escapenounUS /ɪˈskeɪp/

the act of escaping physically

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

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

From this reading A NOMINAL IMPRISONMENT The evening passed pleasantly.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

explainedverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnd/

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

familynounUS /ˈfæməli/

a social unit living together

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

fillverbUS /fɪl/

make full, also in a metaphorical sense

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

foolishadjectiveUS /ˈfuːlɪʃ/

devoid of good sense or judgment

From this reading "Why, you foolish boys," Paulina said, "where would you escape to?

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

glees

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

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

ignorancenounUS /ˈɪɡnərəns/

the lack of knowledge or education

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

IMPRISONMENTnounUS /ˌɪmˈprɪzənmənt/

putting someone in prison or in jail as lawful punishment

From this reading A NOMINAL IMPRISONMENT The evening passed pleasantly.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

JacknounUS /dʒæk/

a small worthless amount

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

joinedadjectiveUS /dʒɔɪnd/

of or relating to two people who are married to each other

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

learntverbUS /lɜːrnt/

inflected form of “learn” — gain knowledge or skills

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

lodgedverbUS /lɑːdʒd/

past form of “lodge” — be a lodger; stay temporarily

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

mammanounUS /ˈmɑːmə/

informal terms for a mother

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/

characterized by or capable of producing music

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

NOMINALadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːmənəl/

relating to or constituting or bearing or giving a name

From this reading A NOMINAL IMPRISONMENT The evening passed pleasantly.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

part-singingnoun

singing with three or more voice parts

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading A NOMINAL IMPRISONMENT The evening passed pleasantly.

Paulina

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

From this reading "Why, you foolish boys," Paulina said, "where would you escape to?

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

pickedverbUS /pɪkt/

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

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

pleasantlyadverbUS /ˈplezəntli/

in a cheerful manner

From this reading A NOMINAL IMPRISONMENT The evening passed pleasantly.

remainverbUS /rɪˈmeɪn/

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

requestverbUS /rɪˈkwest/

express the need or desire for

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/

a native or inhabitant of Russia

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

sangnounUS /sæŋ/

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

singverbUS /sɪŋ/

deliver by singing

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

somewhereadverbUS /ˈsʌmwer/

in or at or to some place

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A NOMINAL IMPRISONMENT The evening passed pleasantly.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading In the course of the evening the boys explained that they had said nothing to the commandant about their having picked up a little Russian, as they had thought that it was better to allow him to remain in ignorance of it, as they had had some idea of making their escape.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading However, perhaps it is as well that you said nothing about it, for he only sent you here because he thought it would annoy mamma; and if he had thought you had known any Russian, he might have lodged you somewhere else."

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading "Why, you foolish boys," Paulina said, "where would you escape to?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading There was some music, and the three girls and their mother sang together, and Jack (who had learnt part-singing at home, for his family were very musical, and every night were accustomed to sing glees and catches) also, at their request, joined in, taking the part which their brother, when at home, had been accustomed to fill.

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading "Why, you foolish boys," Paulina said, "where would you escape to?

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading "Why, you foolish boys," Paulina said, "where would you escape to?

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Why, you foolish boys," Paulina said, "where would you escape to?

Chapter 12 of Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty holds 178 sentences, grouped into 36 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 12 of Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea contain?

Chapter 12 holds 178 sentences of Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 178 sentences, grouped into 36 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 12 of Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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 Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea

Common questions about reading Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea?

Yes. All 4256 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #11058 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #11058, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea take to read?

About 354 minutes of reading across 852 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea section by section

How to work through Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea

Words and structures a reader meets early in Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

February
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Falcon
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sailed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Portsmouth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Jack Archer: A Tale of the Crimea; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.