Chapter 2 of Murder in Any Degree is here in full — 436 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Murder in Any Degree is here in full — 436 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily. "You weren't just any one--Tom, Dick, or Harry. You had something to say, man. Listen. I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
Chapter 2 of Murder in Any Degree is here in full — 436 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/87 · 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.
with anger
From this reading “"Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.”
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading “"Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.”
someone who is a detective
From this reading “"You weren't just any one--Tom, Dick, or Harry.”
-ing form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading “"Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.”
possessive form of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading “"Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.”
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading “"You weren't just any one--Tom, Dick, or Harry.”
hear with intention
From this reading “Listen.”
(theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
From this reading “I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.”
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 I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
with anger
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "You weren't just any one--Tom, Dick, or Harry.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
someone who is a detective
From this reading "You weren't just any one--Tom, Dick, or Harry.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
-ing form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
possessive form of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading You had something to say, man.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading "You weren't just any one--Tom, Dick, or Harry.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
and nothing more
From this reading "You weren't just any one--Tom, Dick, or Harry.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
immediately past
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
hear with intention
From this reading Listen.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading You had something to say, man.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "You weren't just any one--Tom, Dick, or Harry.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "You weren't just any one--Tom, Dick, or Harry.
(theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
express in words
From this reading You had something to say, man.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading You had something to say, man.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You had something to say, man.
male cat
From this reading "You weren't just any one--Tom, Dick, or Harry.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You weren't just any one--Tom, Dick, or Harry.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
a late time of life
From this reading I know what I'm talking about,--I've seen the whole procession in the last ten years,--you were one in a thousand.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why in God's name did you do it?" said Herkimer, flinging away his cigar angrily.
Chapter 2 of Murder in Any Degree by Owen Johnson holds 436 sentences, grouped into 88 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 2 holds 436 sentences of Murder in Any Degree, unabridged, divided into 88 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Murder in Any Degree by Owen Johnson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 436 sentences, grouped into 88 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 88 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 88 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 2 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 Murder in Any Degree by Owen Johnson on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4303 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #12686 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #12686, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 358 minutes of reading across 861 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Murder in Any Degree section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 10 chapters of Murder in Any Degree 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 Murder in Any Degree, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
