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Nightmare tower
Nightmare tower

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Nightmare tower is here in full — 482 sentences across 97 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Nightmare tower
Context Illustration Reading 1/96 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.
The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.
She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.
Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.
Then he said, "I see--but it's not as bad as all that, darling.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Nightmare tower

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Nightmare tower is here in full — 482 sentences across 97 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/96 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.
Line 2
The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.
/ðə ˈveri aɪˈdiːə ʌv mɑːrz wɑːz ˈterəfaɪɪŋ æz wɑːz ðə aɪˈdiːə ʌv ˈtrævəlɪŋ ðer θruː speɪs/
Line 3
She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.
Line 4
Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.
/roʊlf stʊd ðer ˈkwaɪətli ˈletɪŋ hɜːr θɔːts floʊ wɪˈθaʊt ˌɪntərˈʌpʃən/
Line 5
Then he said, "I see--but it's not as bad as all that, darling.

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.

improvement noun US /ˌɪmˈpruːvmənt/

a change for the better; progress in development

From this reading “Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.”

integration noun US /ˌɪntəˈɡreɪʃən/

the action of incorporating a racial or religious group into a community

From this reading “Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.”

interruption noun US /ˌɪntərˈʌpʃən/

an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity

From this reading “Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.”

mattered verb US /ˈmætərd/

past form of “matter” — have weight; have import, carry weight

From this reading “She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.”

Rolf noun US /roʊlf/

Norse chieftain who became the first duke of Normandy (860-931)

From this reading “Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.”

separation noun US /ˌsepərˈeɪʃən/

the state of lacking unity

From this reading “She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.”

terrifying adjective US /ˈterəfaɪɪŋ/

causing extreme terror

From this reading “The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.”

wrench verb US /rentʃ/

twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates

From this reading “She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.”

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.

without interruption preposition + noun

In this reading “Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.”

twenty-four years adjective + noun

In this reading “Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.”

for the purpose preposition + article + noun counted as “for … purpose”

In this reading “Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.”

through space preposition + noun

In this reading “The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.”

stood there verb + particle

In this reading “Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.”

All words in this reading · 60

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.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(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 She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.

badadjectiveUS /bæd/

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading Then he said, "I see--but it's not as bad as all that, darling.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Then he said, "I see--but it's not as bad as all that, darling.

couldn't

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

From this reading She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.

darlingnounUS /ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/

a special loved one

From this reading Then he said, "I see--but it's not as bad as all that, darling.

endureverbUS /enˈdjʊr/

put up with something or somebody unpleasant

From this reading She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.

entireadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtaɪər/

constituting the full quantity or extent; complete

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

flownounUS /floʊ/

the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)

From this reading Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Then he said, "I see--but it's not as bad as all that, darling.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

humanitynounUS /hjuːˈmænɪti/

the quality of being humane

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Then he said, "I see--but it's not as bad as all that, darling.

ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/

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

From this reading The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.

improvementnounUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvmənt/

a change for the better; progress in development

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

integrationnounUS /ˌɪntəˈɡreɪʃən/

the action of incorporating a racial or religious group into a community

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

interruptionnounUS /ˌɪntərˈʌpʃən/

an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity

From this reading Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

it's

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

From this reading Then he said, "I see--but it's not as bad as all that, darling.

lettingnounUS /ˈletɪŋ/

property that is leased or rented out or let

From this reading Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.

Lynne's

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

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

MarsnounUS /mɑːrz/

a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color

From this reading The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.

matteredverbUS /ˈmætərd/

past form of “matter” — have weight; have import, carry weight

From this reading She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.

nativeadjectiveUS /ˈneɪtɪv/

characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Then he said, "I see--but it's not as bad as all that, darling.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

planetnounUS /ˈplænət/

(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

purposenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəs/

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

quietlyadverbUS /ˈkwaɪətli/

with low volume

From this reading Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.

RolfnounUS /roʊlf/

Norse chieftain who became the first duke of Normandy (860-931)

From this reading Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Then he said, "I see--but it's not as bad as all that, darling.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Then he said, "I see--but it's not as bad as all that, darling.

separationnounUS /ˌsepərˈeɪʃən/

the state of lacking unity

From this reading She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.

simplyadverbUS /ˈsɪmpli/

and nothing more

From this reading She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.

spacenounUS /speɪs/

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.

terrifyingadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪɪŋ/

causing extreme terror

From this reading The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then he said, "I see--but it's not as bad as all that, darling.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.

thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.

travelingnounUS /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/

the act of going from one place to another

From this reading The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.

tripnounUS /trɪp/

a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)

From this reading She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.

twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/

being four more than twenty

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The very idea of Mars was terrifying, as was the idea of traveling there through space.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Rolf stood there quietly, letting her thoughts flow without interruption.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

wrenchverbUS /rentʃ/

twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates

From this reading She simply _couldn't_ endure the wrench of the trip, the separation from all that mattered.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading Lynne's entire twenty-four years had been passed for the purpose of integration into and work for the improvement of humanity on her native planet.

Chapter 2 of Nightmare tower by Sam, Jr. Merwin holds 482 sentences, grouped into 97 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 2 of Nightmare tower contain?

Chapter 2 holds 482 sentences of Nightmare tower, unabridged, divided into 97 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Nightmare tower by Sam, Jr. Merwin exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 482 sentences, grouped into 97 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 2 of Nightmare tower?

Work through the 97 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 97 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 2 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading Nightmare tower

Common questions about reading Nightmare tower by Sam, Jr. Merwin on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Nightmare tower?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Nightmare tower is used?

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

How long does Nightmare tower take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Nightmare tower section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of Nightmare tower 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 Nightmare tower

Words and structures a reader meets early in Nightmare tower, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of Nightmare tower, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of Nightmare tower, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of Nightmare tower, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.