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Midshipman Merrill
Midshipman Merrill

Chapter V · The Boy Pilot

Chapter V of Midshipman Merrill, “The Boy Pilot,” is here in full — 51 sentences across 11 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/10 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.
She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.
Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.
The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.
The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.
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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.

Midshipman Merrill

Chapter V · The Boy Pilot

Chapter V of Midshipman Merrill, “The Boy Pilot,” is here in full — 51 sentences across 11 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/10 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.
/ðə ˈskuːnər jɑːt ˈmɪdˈʃɪpmən wɑːz ɑːn ə ˈpleʒər kruːz ʌv ˈsevrəl wiːks wɪð ə dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt ˈpɑːrti ɑːn bɔːrd/
Line 2
She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.
/ʃiː wɑːz ə lɑːrdʒ ˈruːmi ənd stæntʃ kræft æz wel æz ˈkæriɪŋ ðə ˈtʃæmpiən ˈkʌlərz æz ə ˈreɪsər wʌn ɪn ˈʃoʊɪŋ ə kliːn per ʌv hiːlz tuː ðə fliːt ˈpleʒər boʊts wen ə kʌp ɔːr pɜːrs wɑːz æt steɪk/
Line 3
Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.
Line 4
The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.
Line 5
The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.
/ðə kruːz hæd bɪn ˈɡreɪtli ˌenˈdʒɔɪd ənd ðə praʊ ʌv ðə jɑːt hæd bɪn tɜːrnd ˈhoʊmwərd wen ˈsʌdənli keɪm ʌp frʌm aʊt ʌv ðə ˈveri siː ɪt siːmd ðə blæk ənd ˈʌɡli stɔːrm/

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.

Bostonian noun US /ˌbɔːˈstoʊniən/

a native or resident of Boston

From this reading “Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.”

comprised verb US /kəmˈpraɪzd/

past form of “comprise” — be composed of

From this reading “The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.”

Monroe noun US /mənˈroʊ/

United States film actress noted for sex appeal (1926-1962)

From this reading “Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.”

Newport noun US /ˈnuːpɔːrt/

a port city in southeastern Wales

From this reading “Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.”

prow noun US /praʊ/

front part of a vessel or aircraft

From this reading “The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.”

racer noun US /ˈreɪsər/

someone who drives racing cars at high speeds

From this reading “She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.”

roomy noun US /ˈruːmi/

an associate who shares a room with you

From this reading “She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.”

stanch verb US /stæntʃ/

stop the flow of a liquid

From this reading “She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.”

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.

along the coast preposition + article + noun counted as “along … coast”

In this reading “Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.”

on board preposition + noun

on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle

In this reading “The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.”

several weeks adjective + noun counted as “several week”

In this reading “The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.”

at stake preposition + noun

in question or at issue

In this reading “She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.”

clean pair adjective + noun

In this reading “She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.”

among the guests preposition + article + noun counted as “among … guest”

In this reading “Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.”

came up verb + adjective counted as “come up”

bring forth, usually something desirable

In this reading “The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.”

All words in this reading · 109

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 The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

accompaniedadjectiveUS /əˈkʌmpənid/

having companions or an escort

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

blackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

boardnounUS /bɔːrd/

a committee having supervisory powers

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

boatsnounUS /boʊts/

plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

BostoniannounUS /ˌbɔːˈstoʊniən/

a native or resident of Boston

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

carryingverbUS /ˈkæriɪŋ/

-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

championnounUS /ˈtʃæmpiən/

someone who has won first place in a competition

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

civiladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/

applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

cleanadjectiveUS /kliːn/

free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

coastnounUS /koʊst/

the shore of a sea or ocean

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

colorsnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/

a flag that shows its nationality

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

CommodorenounUS /ˈkɑːmədɔːr/

a commissioned naval officer who ranks above a captain and below a rear admiral; the lowest grade of admiral

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

comprisedverbUS /kəmˈpraɪzd/

past form of “comprise” — be composed of

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

congenialadjectiveUS /kənˈdʒiːnjəl/

suitable to your needs

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

craftnounUS /kræft/

the skilled practice of a practical occupation

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

cruiseverbUS /kruːz/

drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

cupnounUS /kʌp/

a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

distinguishedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/

(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

dozennounUS /ˈdʌzən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

enjoyedverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪd/

past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

famenounUS /feɪm/

the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

fleetnounUS /fliːt/

group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

FortressnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəs/

a fortified defensive structure

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

gallantadjectiveUS /ˈɡælənt/

unflinching in battle or action

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

GeneraladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

greatlyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪtli/

to an extraordinary extent or degree

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

guestsnounUS /ɡests/

plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

heelsnounUS /hiːlz/

plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

historynounUS /ˈhɪstəri/

the aggregate of past events

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

homewardadverbUS /ˈhoʊmwərd/

toward home

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

HonorableadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnərəbəl/

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

invitedverbUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪtəd/

past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

ladiesnounUS /ˈleɪdiz/

plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

LawrencenounUS /ˈlɔːrəns/

Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

lesseradjectiveUS /ˈlesər/

of less size or importance

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

Lucien

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

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

MidshipmannounUS /ˈmɪdˈʃɪpmən/

a temporary rank held by young naval officers in training

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

militaryadjectiveUS /ˈmɪləteri/

of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

millionairenounUS /ˌmɪljəˈner/

a person whose material wealth is valued at more than a million dollars

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

MonroenounUS /mənˈroʊ/

United States film actress noted for sex appeal (1926-1962)

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

NavynounUS /ˈneɪvi/

an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

NewportnounUS /ˈnuːpɔːrt/

a port city in southeastern Wales

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

notenounUS /noʊt/

a brief written record

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

others

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

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

ownernounUS /ˈoʊnər/

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

pairnounUS /per/

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/

an organization to gain political power

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

Peyton

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

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

prownounUS /praʊ/

front part of a vessel or aircraft

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

pursenounUS /pɜːrs/

a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

racernounUS /ˈreɪsər/

someone who drives racing cars at high speeds

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

roomynounUS /ˈruːmi/

an associate who shares a room with you

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/

a large beer glass

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

seanounUS /siː/

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

SecretarynounUS /ˈsekrəteri/

a person who is head of an administrative department of government

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

showingnounUS /ˈʃoʊɪŋ/

the display of a motion picture

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

St

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

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

stakenounUS /steɪk/

(law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

stanchverbUS /stæntʃ/

stop the flow of a liquid

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

StatesnounUS /steɪts/

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

stormverbUS /stɔːrm/

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/

happening unexpectedly

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

uglyadjectiveUS /ˈʌɡli/

displeasing to the senses

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading The Honorable Secretary of the United States Navy, gallant Commodore Lucien, and several others of lesser note, accompanied by half a dozen ladies, comprised the guests of General Peyton on the Midshipman.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading The cruise had been greatly enjoyed, and the prow of the yacht had been turned homeward, when suddenly came up from out of the very sea, it seemed, the black and ugly storm.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

weeksnounUS /wiːks/

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

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 She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Her distinguished owner, a millionaire Bostonian, had invited a congenial party to become his guests for a cruise from Fortress Monroe along the coast to the St. Lawrence and back to Newport, and among the guests were several who had won fame in the history of their country in civil and military life.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

wonnounUS /wʌn/

the basic unit of money in South Korea

From this reading She was a large, roomy and stanch craft, as well as carrying the champion colors as a racer, won in showing a clean pair of heels to the fleet pleasure boats when a cup or purse was at stake.

yachtnounUS /jɑːt/

an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing

From this reading The schooner yacht Midshipman was on a pleasure cruise of several weeks with a distinguished party on board.

Chapter 5 of Midshipman Merrill by Henry Harrison Lewis holds 51 sentences, grouped into 11 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 5 of Midshipman Merrill contain?

Chapter 5 holds 51 sentences of Midshipman Merrill, unabridged, divided into 11 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Midshipman Merrill by Henry Harrison Lewis exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 51 sentences, grouped into 11 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 5 of Midshipman Merrill?

Work through the 11 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 11 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 5 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading Midshipman Merrill

Common questions about reading Midshipman Merrill by Henry Harrison Lewis on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Midshipman Merrill?

Yes. All 2290 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #63590 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Midshipman Merrill is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #63590, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Midshipman Merrill take to read?

About 190 minutes of reading across 458 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Midshipman Merrill section by section

How to work through Midshipman Merrill section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 39 chapters of Midshipman Merrill 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 Midshipman Merrill

Words and structures a reader meets early in Midshipman Merrill, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Comes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Midshipman Merrill; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Beacon
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Midshipman Merrill; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cliff
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Midshipman Merrill; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mates
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Midshipman Merrill; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.