Chapter 5 of London River is here in full — 407 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
Chapter 5 of London River is here in full — 407 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing. That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end. There was Purdy, too . . you couldn't expect much from him after a funeral."
Chapter 5 of London River is here in full — 407 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.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.”
made less hopeful or enthusiastic
From this reading “That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.”
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading “That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.”
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading “That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.”
a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
From this reading “. you couldn't expect much from him after a funeral."”
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading “That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.”
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading “"So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.”
-ing form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading “That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.”
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 "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
later than; following
From this reading . you couldn't expect much from him after a funeral."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading . you couldn't expect much from him after a funeral."
made less hopeful or enthusiastic
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading . you couldn't expect much from him after a funeral."
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
From this reading . you couldn't expect much from him after a funeral."
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading . you couldn't expect much from him after a funeral."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
the force of workers available
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading . you couldn't expect much from him after a funeral."
immediately following in time or order
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
not any; not one
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
above and across; more than
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was Purdy, too .
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
waterproofed canvas
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was Purdy, too .
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
a special situation
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There was Purdy, too .
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "So I took over for a bit--the mate was no good--and waited for the next thing.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
-ing form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading That affair disheartened the men a lot, and I took it for granted, from their faces as they stood round that figure in a tarpaulin under a tree in the forest, that we were witnessing the end.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading . you couldn't expect much from him after a funeral."
Chapter 5 of London River by H. M. (Henry Major) Tomlinson holds 407 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 5 holds 407 sentences of London River, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 5 of London River by H. M. (Henry Major) Tomlinson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 407 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 5 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 London River by H. M. (Henry Major) Tomlinson on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2875 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #15167 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #15167, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 239 minutes of reading across 575 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through London River section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 7 chapters of London River 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 London River, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
