Chapter 4 of John Henry Smith is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of John Henry Smith is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"A missed ball counts a stroke," laughed Carter. "Are you sure that's the rule?" We all assured him there was not the slightest doubt of it. "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me. Here goes for number two!"
Chapter 4 of John Henry Smith is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading “"A missed ball counts a stroke," laughed Carter.”
plural of “count” — the total number counted
From this reading “"A missed ball counts a stroke," laughed Carter.”
plural of “cut” — a share of the profits
From this reading “"All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.”
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading “"A missed ball counts a stroke," laughed Carter.”
past form of “protest” — utter words of protest
From this reading “"All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.”
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading “We all assured him there was not the slightest doubt of it.”
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading “"A missed ball counts a stroke," laughed Carter.”
strike with a swiping motion
From this reading “"All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "A missed ball counts a stroke," laughed Carter.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading We all assured him there was not the slightest doubt of it.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are you sure that's the rule?"
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading We all assured him there was not the slightest doubt of it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading "A missed ball counts a stroke," laughed Carter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading "A missed ball counts a stroke," laughed Carter.
plural of “count” — the total number counted
From this reading "A missed ball counts a stroke," laughed Carter.
plural of “cut” — a share of the profits
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading We all assured him there was not the slightest doubt of it.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Here goes for number two!"
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading Here goes for number two!"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here goes for number two!"
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We all assured him there was not the slightest doubt of it.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We all assured him there was not the slightest doubt of it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading "A missed ball counts a stroke," laughed Carter.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading "A missed ball counts a stroke," laughed Carter.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We all assured him there was not the slightest doubt of it.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Here goes for number two!"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We all assured him there was not the slightest doubt of it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
past form of “protest” — utter words of protest
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading "Are you sure that's the rule?"
express in words
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading We all assured him there was not the slightest doubt of it.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading "A missed ball counts a stroke," laughed Carter.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "Are you sure that's the rule?"
strike with a swiping motion
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are you sure that's the rule?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Are you sure that's the rule?"
in or at that place or location
From this reading We all assured him there was not the slightest doubt of it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Here goes for number two!"
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We all assured him there was not the slightest doubt of it.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We all assured him there was not the slightest doubt of it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "All that I can say is that it's a fool rule," he protested, "but at that, one missed swipe cuts little figure with me.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Are you sure that's the rule?"
Chapter 4 of John Henry Smith by Frederick Upham Adams holds 406 sentences, grouped into 82 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 4 holds 406 sentences of John Henry Smith, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of John Henry Smith by Frederick Upham Adams exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 406 sentences, grouped into 82 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 82 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading John Henry Smith by Frederick Upham Adams on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4405 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #15247 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #15247, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 367 minutes of reading across 881 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through John Henry Smith section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 11 chapters of John Henry Smith to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in John Henry Smith, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
